Our Daily Bread

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day's portion every day..." - Exodus 16:4

As of 2024, 78% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Yes, you read that right. More than three-quarters of Americans live each week just barely making it. But that's the interesting portion of this; the thought of living paycheck to paycheck as "just making it." It's an interesting thought because us here in America see being able to live paycheck to paycheck as, "just making it", while other brothers and sisters in the more impoverished regions of the world would see it as grace. You see, Christians in America are probably the most wealthiest Christians of all-time, with the exception maybe being the church in Laodicea (Revelation 3). And because of our wealth, we can often be wrapped up in a culture mindset that we always need to have more than enough.

Solomon writes in Ecclesiastes 5:10, "He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income...". For the one who is never content with what God has given him/her, no matter what they have monetarily will never be enough. A thought of "If I have five-thousand in the bank I will be satisfied", will quickly weed up to, "If I have ten-thousand in the bank I will be satisfied", and so on so forth. Never content. Oftentimes, having enough funds to simply have our bills paid turns us to point a finger at our God and accuse Him of not taking care of us. We in America often think God needs to give us money to have our needs and our wants met. We believe a grievous thought that justifies us having enough funds for food, clothing, stocks, retirement, etc. Not that there is anything wrong if we have been given the grace to have funds for those additional things, but the heart of expecting God to give us those means when He is already providing what we need ought to be repented of. God is more than able to bless us more than we deserve. However, truly, we ought to be content in our hearts with simply having food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8).

As written in the Scripture, at the very top of the page, God spoke to Moses, and told Moses that he was going to rain manna from heaven, and the Israelites were to gather a day's portion every day. They were not to gather excess but only what they needed. We see God all throughout Scripture providing for His people's needs. Again, when God gives us more than we need, it is not a bad thing (we will not err on that side of being legalistic). However, let us learn to be content with what we have, and thankful if the Lord wills to give us more. Let us not make having more our life, or give way to the idea that God can only do great things through us if we have loads in the bank. God is our provider and our sustainer, He is a Father who meets our every need. For some, it may be more than needs met, and for others, it will always just be that. Let us be content in what He has given us, remembering that He will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

The joy in having our every need met, is we do not have to worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:25-34). We can join the Psalmist in saying, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? (Psalm 118:6)." Likewise the joy we have in having more than we need is to be able to be generous to those in need. What grace is this!? God who provides our needs, uses us through the funds He has given us, to meet the needs of others! What true divine grace! May He grant us wisdom in everything pertaining to this. Like Paul, we will be a people who know how to be content in every situation. A people who knows how to be brought low, and how to abound (Philippians 4:11-12).

Brothers, sisters, let us continually draw encouragement from the Scripture. Let us remember how God provided water in the wilderness: how He made the bitter water of Merah sweet (Exodus 15:22-27) and gave water from the rock (Exodus 17:1-7). Let us remember the bread and meat He provided (Exodus 16). Let us also be encouraged by our brothers and sisters in the most destitute, persecuted, and impoverished areas. Let us take joy in how our God cares for them (especially in their great affliction) and how He has never left them in lack or need. Never. God is faithful to give and provide for His people. Let us receive that grace with contentment and thankfulness always.

Soli Deo Gloria.