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Daily Devotions

Matthew

Matthew 
Day 
Day 81

The Material Needs of Life

Text: Matthew 6 : 1 - 18

As the disciples listened to Jesus teaching them how they could improve their prayer-life, another important truth stood out. He did not emphasize the material aspect very much, as far as prayer is concerned. How should we understand Jesus in this matter? How should we interpret and apply these words,

“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11

The very fact that Jesus uttered these words would tell us that He was not dismissing the validity of praying for the material needs of life. The challenge as always is to understand the Biblical context of what Jesus taught.

APPRECIATING GOD AS BOTH CREATOR AND PROVIDER

Praying for daily needs must always be understood in the light of the Lord’s promise to provide. Let us consider one of the loveliest Psalms that portray the Lord as both Creator and Provider.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul!
O Lord my God, You are very great:
You are clothed with honour and majesty.

He causes the grass to grow for the cattle,
And vegetation for the service of man,
That he may bring forth food from the earth,
And wine that makes glad the heart of man,
Oil to make his face shine,
And bread which strengthens man’s heart.

The young lions roar after their prey,
And seek their food from God.

Man goes out to his work
And to his labour until the evening.

These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season.
What You give them they gather in;
You open Your hand, they are filled with good.”
Psalm 104:1, 14-15, 21, 23, 27-28

This psalm was dedicated to the Lord in praise for the way He has always provided for His creatures! What are some important lessons we can and must learn from the reading of this psalm? Two vital lessons stand out.

1. Praising God

The needs of life are many. Sometimes, we are so overwhelmed by our needs that we fail to give praise and honour to the Lord for His goodness to us. By all means, let us pray for our daily bread, but let us not fail to praise Him for His faithfulness to us.

Let us consider how the psalmist cried out in praise of the Lord and learn how to give appropriate praise to Him.

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord.”
Psalm 104:33-34

2. Waiting on God in faith

As we pray we must also exercise great faith in the Lord. One of the expressions of faith in the Lord is to be found in the practice of waiting upon the Lord. Plants and animals are described as “waiting on God”. If that is the case, how much more must the children of God learn how to wait upon their Heavenly Father to provide for their needs. The psalmist expressed great confidence that the Lord would indeed provide, “in due season”.

A TESTIMONY TO CHEER THE HEART

There are times when the Lord may allow us to suffer adversity. In such times of need, it is important that we do not lose faith in the Lord’s promises. Let us draw much cheer and encouragement from this text.

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
I have been young and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.”
Psalm 37:23-26

The focus of this testimony is the challenge to live as “a good man”. This “righteous one” can be sure that though he may go through some tough times in life, God cares for him. Only the righteous who walk with the Lord would understand and appreciate the significance of this challenge. Let us seek the Lord to provide for us with greater understanding and appreciation.