Several years ago, I had a new young teenager come to our church. Valeria and I took him out to dinner, and he was really looking for help. Over the course of our conversation, I asked him “so, what do you need? How can we help you?”
He replied, “I dont know. At this point, I cannot tell the difference between my needs and my wants.”
That is a very wise statement for a young man.
Many of us struggle to know what we really need. We often want more. We often aren’t content or satisfied.
Tonight I will continue teaching through the Lord’s Prayer (model prayer) of Matthew 6. Verse 11 says “give us this daily our daily bread.” Jesus is teaching us that we are to pray to God for Him to give us the food we need.
I notice a cross reference to Proverbs 30:8-9
“Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, “Who is the Lord?”
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.”
Notice what these verses are saying in regards to what we need. God, do not give me poverty or riches. Because too much money leads to too much food which leads to full and content bellies that forget about God. But not enough money leads to not enough food which leads to hurting bellies that will reject God by stealing and not depending upon God himself.
When Jesus teaches us to pray “give us this day our daily bread” He is meaning for us to live God-centered lives. Dependent on God for every single thing. From the food we eat to the money we get, it all comes from Him. And lets be careful to not desire too much.
We want just enough that is needful for us!