Give Us Our Daily Bread

Concerning God’s command that believers should ask Him for all that they need, Thomas Manton said, “Contentment is also one of God’s blessings we should ask for when we pray.  Bread provides our need, but our enjoyment of it is also his blessing.  Happiness does not lie in abundance, but in the suitableness of our mind to our estate (Luke 12:15).  There is a twofold war in man: the war between a man and his conscience which breeds trouble of mind, and a war between his affections and his condition which breeds murmuring and envious grumbling.  So, pray for contentment also when you pray, ‘Give us this day our daily bread.’”  Manton says so much in these few sentences.  This brilliant analysis will abundantly repay careful study.  Jesus said that happiness will not be found in possessing an abundance of earthly blessings.  Happiness is the result of our desires being in harmony with what our Lord has seen fit to give us.  Paul wrote that we should be content with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8).  If we are not content with these things, our hearts will be dominated by greed and envy.  Just as God is the only one who can meet our daily needs, even so He is the only one who can enable us to be content with what He provides.