Our Daily Bread
Monday, October 21 Matthew 6:9-13
“Give us today ourdaily bread”
In what is commonly referred to as “TheLord’s Prayer,” Jesus gives an example of how his disciples should pray. The prayer is offered not so much as acommand to pray, but as an invitation to share in the prayer life of Jesushimself. The priorities of the prayerare in line with the Old and New Testament practice of establishing the primacyof God in national and personal life. The prayer ranges from the grand themes of God’s name, his kingdom, andhis will to the everyday themes of bread, debts, and temptations.
The reference to bread refers to thebeliever’s needs, both physical and spiritual, teaching that followers of Jesusare to rely on God for all of their needs. Jesus’ wording recalls Israel’s daily reliance on God for manna in thedesert. In the same way that manna wasonly given one day at a time, disciples are to rely on daily provision for lifefrom God, helping them to develop a continuing, conscious dependence on him. Since God provides our needs today, we can beconfident that he will provide our needs every day of our lives.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for providingfor my needs every day. Amen.
Tuesday, October 22 Luke 6:37-42
“With the measure you use, it will be measured to you”
The measure weuse toward others is the measure God will use toward us. If we do not judge; he will not judgeus. If we do not condemn; he will notcondemn us. If we give; he will give tous in “good measure.” The picture of thegood measure pressed down draws on what happened in the ancient marketplace,where a seller placed grain in a container. Then he shook the container to get the grain to level out so that hecould put more grain in the measure. That is how God measures for the generous and those who give. In fact, he gives so that the cup runs over.
One reasonpeople don’t give is because they are fearful. They feel they don’t have enough, and if they give they think they willhave even less. But many have discoveredthat when we learn to give to God, he begins to give us “more.” This “more” he gives comes in many differentforms. He gives us more wisdom in ourfinances, more peace in our circumstances, more contentment with what we have,more joy in our giving, and more grace to be grateful for his manyblessings. He makes what we have to beenough to meet our needs.
Help me trustyou, Lord, that when I give I will always have enough. Amen.
Wednesday, October 23 Deuteronomy 14:22-29
“Set aside a tenth”
Tithing (setting aside 10% and giving itto the Lord’s work) serves both as a gift and, more important, as an act ofputting God first in our lives. Itexpresses the return to God of some part of what we have received from God. It reminded the people of Deuteronomy that,in harvesting the crops or counting the offspring of flocks and herds, there hadoccurred an act of receiving, not simply producing. Similarly, setting aside a portion of ourincome for the Lord’s work is to recognize that our ability to earn money isitself a gift from God for which we show our gratitude.
Another reason our biblical text gives fortithing is that it provided a supply of food for the support of the priests andthe poor of the community. They, too,like the farmers and shepherds held a place in God’s larger community, and itwas essential that they, too, be provided for and that their basic needs bemet. For us today who belong to aworshipping community of believers, giving so the pastors and staff of thechurch can be compensated, and those who need help can receive it, is asimportant as it was in ancient times.
Dear God, help me to give you first placein the use of my finances. Amen.
Thursday, October 24 Haggai 1:1-11
“Give carefulthought to your ways”
Haggai links Judah’s present hardship tomisplaced priorities in their lives. This is clearly seen in the contrast between concern for their own homesand concern for God’s house. The issuehere is not the amount of resources available but rather the priorities of thepeople. They are concerned first withthemselves and their own comfort and extravagance. This message is not saying that one cannotenjoy the blessings of a home, but twenty years of inactivity at the templesite while homes were being built and beautified is a problem.
Many of us struggle with materialism,consumerism, indebtedness, concerns about our finances, or fear about whatmight happen in the future. Haggai istelling us that God sometimes allows cold economic winds to blow to get ourattention so that we will “give careful thought to our ways” and rediscover theimportance of putting God first in our lives and first in our finances. God wants us to discover afresh how living alife of giving, not just getting, leads us to true joy, lasting happiness, andinner contentment.
Icommit, Lord, to more carefully consider how I use my money. Amen.
Friday, October 25 Matthew 19:16-22
“He went sadly away because he had many possessions”
This passage does not suggest that wealthis wrong, but it does suggest that there is something about wealth that canchoke off the effectiveness of the gospel and keep one from entering God’skingdom. The rich young man sensed alack in his life that could not be filled with his own religious efforts. Jesus knew full well the controlling issue ofthe rich young man’s life – it was his wealth, which provided him power,significance, and status. It had becomethe god of his life.
Jesus called him to exchange it forfollowing him. The young man’s turningaway is tragic, but it becomes a powerful illustration of the way we need tokeep short account of what is ruling our lives. Even Christians can misplace their allegiance, so each person must behonest with himself or herself to know what is the treasure of the heart. At stake is Jesus’ place as the Lord of ourlife. In order to claim Jesus as Lord,each person must remove the “god” of his or her life so that Jesus alone isGod.
Show me, Lord, ifthere are any “gods” in my life that I need to remove. Amen.
Saturday, October 26 Romans 12:1-2
“Let God transformyou by changing the way you think”
GIGO is acomputer programming term that refers to “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” If you put bad information into a computer,you will get bad information out of it. Our brains are like computers. They gather and store a lot of information about thousands ofthings. But if we only get ourinformation about finances and possessions from the internet, TV, movies, andother worldly sources, we will be getting “garbage in.” This will result in “garbage out” in ourfinancial thinking. We will make poorfinancial decisions, impulse purchases, and waste money chasing after thingsthat really can’t bring lasting satisfaction and joy.
God has a betterway. He wants us to intentionally trainour brains to think his thoughts on finances, giving, and material possessions. His Word can reprogram our brains toexperience his will and his ways in these important areas of our lives. Then we will break out of the financial bondageof worldly thinking about financial matters and begin to experience God’speace, wisdom, and guidance.
Teach me your ways, Lord, so what I havewill bring me joy. Amen.