Read: Matthew 6:25-32
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. (Prov. 10:3)
Are you a worrier? I’m not usually, but I can fall into that trap at times—the one where you let fears about the future spoil your peace in the present. Jesus said that excessive anxiety about the necessities of life—food, drink, clothing—is the hallmark of people who don’t know God. As his followers, we have better things to worry about.
In this passage about the nagging worries of daily existence, Jesus uses one of his favorite arguments—the “how much more” line of reasoning. If God feeds the birds each day and clothes the flowers in such splendid raiment, how much more will he do for us, his dear children?
It’s important, though, not to draw the wrong conclusion from Jesus’ teaching. He wants us to dial down our anxiety, not to sit back and do nothing. The Lord will take care of our needs, but that doesn’t mean we just open our mouths and expect him to fill them. After all, he gives the birds their food, but they still work pretty hard getting it, as anyone who has ever watched a robin pulling a worm out of the lawn knows. Daily bread was given to the children of Israel in the wilderness because of special circumstances; the rest of us have to earn it. “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich” (Prov. 10:4). —David Bast
As you pray, give thanks for your daily bread—and the means of securing it.
About the Author
Rev. Dave Bast retired as the President and Broadcast Minister of Words of Hope in January 2017, after 23 years with the ministry. Prior to his ministry and work at Words of Hope, Dave served as a pastor for 18 years in congregations in the Reformed Church in America. He is the author of several devotional books. A graduate of Hope College and Western Theological Seminary, he has also studied at both the Fuller and Calvin seminaries. Dave and his wife, Betty Jo, have four children and four grandchildren. Dave enjoys reading, growing tomatoes, and avidly follows the Detroit Tigers.
