The Fourth Petition.
Give us this day our daily bread.
What does this mean?
Answer - God gives daily bread, even without our prayer, to all
wicked men; but we pray in this petition that He would lead us to know it, and
to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.
What is meant by daily bread?
Answer - Everything that belongs to the support and wants of the
body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, homestead, field, cattle,
money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and
faithful magistrates, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline,
honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.
We need to live a
balanced life. Thus we pray “this day” and “daily”. We should be satisfied with
what we need each day, for it is foolish and sinful to worry about the future.
Wise king Solomon writes in Proverbs 30:7-9, Two things have I required of
Thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies; give
me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full
and deny thee and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and take
the name of my God in vain. St Paul explains to young Timothy, Having food and
raiment, let us be therewith content. (1 Timothy 6:8)
God has promised to
provide for us each day our daily needs. As we plan for the future, as we save
and invest we place our confidence in the Lord that He will supply us for what
we need each day. When people were in need the Savior provided for them. To
this day He has promised to provide for us whatever we need to support our body
and life. In a sure confidence we can be content knowing that He is able to
provide whatever we may need. Our time
are truly in His hands.
Almighty God, all that
we possess is from Your loving hand. Give us grace that we may honor You with
all we own, always remembering the account we must one day give to Jesus
Christ, our Lord.
Collect for Proper use
of wealth, Lutheran Service Book © 2008 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Artwork
by Ed Rojas, © Higher Things
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