Daily Bread

When Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, the example He gave them included these words: "Give us this day our daily bread." Well-fed Americans probably have less understanding of this part of the prayer than many people in other parts of the world. The poorly nourished are fully aware of the meaning of daily bread since they seldom have on hand more than is needed for one day, if not for only a single meal. Praying this prayer, they literally rely on God to provide what is needed for their next meal.

By contrast, major grocery chains here vie for our patronage with 24/7 business hours, doubled coupons, and two-for-one specials. Convenience stores located every few blocks not only provide ready access to necessary items, but also promote a wide array of goods that entice one to purchase "extra's." I am very aware that there are also Americans who are truly hungry, but the average person, even if shopping on a limited budget, can still buy what is needed for the next meal or even several meals. Because this is so relatively easy, we may slide over our Lord's teaching about daily provision.

Remember the little widow of Zarephath? It was a time of terrible famine in Israel, and she had no source of provision. She was not living on Social Security, after all, or drawing her deceased husband's railroad pension. All that stood between her and starvation was the one little pancake she was going to make for her son and herself--and then they would die. The prophet Elijah, finding her gathering sticks for the fire, asked her, "Would you bring a little water for me to drink?" As the woman turned away to fill his request, he called after her, "Oh, and bring me, please, a bit of bread also."

"Sir, I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour is left in the bin and a little oil in the bottom of the jug. I am going to make one last meal for myself and my son, and when that is gone, we will die."

"Don't be afraid," Elijah told her. "Go ahead and cook your 'last meal.' But first, bake a little loaf of bread for me out of what you have. Afterward, there will still be enough food for you and your son."

Incredibly, the woman risked the flour and oil, and even her life, on the word of God spoken by the prophet. "There will always be flour in the bin and oil in the jug until the famine has ended." She did as Elijah said, and all three of them ate for many days from that handful of flour and the few drops of oil . Did God fill up the flour barrel and the oil jug so that the widow had an abundant supply? No, every time she dipped into the barrel, there was just enough. When she went back the next time, there was just enough. Whenever she poured oil from the jug, there was just enough, and when she needed oil again, there was just enough.

When we ask God for our daily bread--and by extension, all our needs for the day--we acknowledge that we are relying on Him to care for us. We never get so "spiritual" that these physical needs are of no consequence to us, and therefore also to Him. Just because they are part of the natural realm does not mean their consideration is foreign to faith. We choose to see through eyes of faith, and we choose to see Him as our source.

Sometimes we are impatient with the "dailiness" of God's provision. How about He just gives me half a million dollars, and then I won't keep asking Him every day for what I need? Most of us are okay with depending on God if we can see that we have everything we need for the present--and then some! And yes, sometimes God does work that way; for example, when Jesus fed the crowd of ten or fifteen thousand, He gave more than enough and the disciples aferwards picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. But if we are praying honestly, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are committing ourselves to receiving His supply on an as-needed basis.

MaryMartha