BALANCE
Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:7-9
Ask for Provision: Give us this day our daily bread
In The Message Eugene Peterson translates it this way: "Keep us alive with three square meals." While that translation maintains the passage's literal simplicity, there is far more to this request than simply the meeting of daily nutritional intake needs. Jesus is giving us permission to seek his provision for all of our daily needs.
In Martin Luther's Short Catechism, the reformer writes this: "God indeed gives daily bread to all men, even to the wicked, without our prayer; but we pray in this petition that he would lead us to acknowledge our daily bread as his gift, and to receive it with thanksgiving. What is meant by daily bread? Everything that is required to satisfy our bodily needs; such as food and raiment, house and home, fields and flocks, money and goods; pious parents, children, and servants; godly and faithful rulers, good government; seasonable weather, peace and health; order and honor; true friends, good neighbors, and the like."
Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with both the promises of God for provision and God's practical way of keeping those promises. Much of our turmoil comes when our own resources fall short of the need and when we fail to remember God's willingness and ability to meet those needs. He will do far more than simply keep us alive with three square meals. Paul makes this promise in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” It is upon that promise that we can pray with confidence "Give us today our daily bread." It is because we are his children that he desires to meet all of our needs, and he has available all of the glorious riches in Christ Jesus, riches that are more than ample to meet even the deepest of our needs each day.
God Almighty, I thank You for, and trust in, Your promise to meet the needs of Your children.
Lord Jesus, please provide for my needs today, and teach me to distinguish between my needs and my wants.
Holy Spirit, please keep me mindful of those who are in far greater need than I, and open my heart to desiring that their needs be filled before my own are.
Amen.