The Lord's Prayer: Dependence

Matthew 6:11

October 6, 2002

 

I have rarely been denied the opportunity to pray for someone in need. It has happened once or twice, but for the most part, even avowed pagans are glad to have a Christian praying for them in time of great need. It is apparent that atheism does not look too smart when one faces insurmountable needs. 

 

But how about when life is rocking along without a whole lot of trouble? The pagan man sees no need for prayer in such settings since he views it as a last resort to lift him out of the pit of urgency. But how does the professing Christian look at prayer when life seems to be on cruise control? Various views of prayer seem to surface. Prayer for many is a ritual that makes them feel better. For others it is a habit that keeps them anchored to the traditions of the past. Some look at prayer as random uttering of words to whatever deity might be listening. But for kingdom citizens, prayer is the profound expression of dependence upon the King - even when life is not rocky and troubling.

 

Our Lord is setting forth the big picture of kingdom citizenship: what it looks like and how it functions. In this regard he not only has shown us the character, behavior, and practice of kingdom citizens, but also how his followers are to pray. Two critical issues seem important to keep in mind as we move from the three petitions focusing on the kingdom of God to the three centering on the believer's personal needs. First, kingdom citizens must know how to face the needs and demands of daily life. They are not exempt from need. Much of the Sermon on the Mount helps kingdom citizens to look to the King in the face of need (5:3-4; 6:25-34).

 

Second, since Jesus has commanded prayer to cover all of life for kingdom citizens, they must seek to discover the place of prayer regarding daily needs. This means that even when life appears to be on cruise control, believers are to be zealous in prayer. I think that is why kingdom issues come first in the petitions of the Lord's Prayer; for until the King returns, there will never be a time that our King is hallowed as he ought to be, and his kingdom has taken root among all peoples. In this sense the kingdom citizen will always be able to see needs for which he looks to the heavenly Father to meet. So need is part of life; prayer is the means God uses to supply needs.

 

Kingdom citizens are to look to the heavenly Father for each day's needs. Such dependence affects the desires and worldview of the believer. And this kind of dependence nurtures the believer's relationship to the King. How are we to pray about our needs?

 

I. The Father as Giver

 

More than anything else, the teaching of Scripture makes much of our gracious God! The Bible is God's revelation to us of his ways and his will, but primarily of himself. So as we consider the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount, and specifically, the Lord's Prayer, we must realize that the focus is upon the Father as Giver. That is why the first three petitions of this prayer point to the hallowing, rule, and purposes of our God as preeminent in life and prayer. The remaining petitions of daily bread, forgiveness, and deliverance from temptation are the appropriate response of those hallowing the Lord's name.

 

1. Big with mercies

 

"Give us this day our daily bread." The phrase is part of our vocabulary. "Give" points to Someone else that has the supply that we need so that we humbly ask of him to give to us. James summarizes, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow" (James 1:17). "Every" is all encompassing, therefore "give us this day our daily bread" is legitimate for the request is made to one that is fully capable of supplying the need.

 

But is it not sheer arrogance to ask someone else to take care of what you need? We are appalled by those that look to the government as the purveyor of every good and perfect gift, knowing that government is intended to exercise the rule of law, and not supply "daily bread." Every attempt by government to be the supplier of all needs has failed. We need only look at the dismantled Iron Curtain as evidence of this, or at the starving millions in the communist nations of North Korea and China. That is one basic problem (among many) with communism: government attempts to take the place of the Lord as provider. With limited ability, and even more limited mercy, such governments have no capacity to be the giver of daily bread. They cannot do it. Neither can our nation be the giver of daily bread as well. For though our resources may be greater than those of communist nations, our government is limited in ability, sympathy, and knowledge. Unlike government, with God there is "no variation or shifting shadow," or to put it another way, our God is not affected by political polls, elections, or pork barrel projects. He is big with mercies!

 

Back to my question: is it not sheer arrogance for us to ask God to take care of our needs? We must admit that in light of our sin and rebellion against him and his governing of the universe, that we have no claim upon God's supply. We deserve nothing but his wrath. The whole world stands guilty and accountable before God (Rom 3:19-20). But our God is "big with mercy" as William Cowper put it (in "God Moves in a Mysterious Way"). And on top of that he tells us to ask him for our "daily bread." The Creator looks at the creature, and shows divine pity. Since "all things have been created through Him and for Him," he has assumed the posture of showing mercy to all of creation (Col 1:16). He is the one that our Lord says feeds the birds of the air and "clothes the grass of the field" (Matt 6:26, 30). Our value as those created in the image of God far exceeds that of the birds and the grass. The Creator bids the creature to look to him as the merciful Provider.

 

2. Care for creation

 

Our God is not an absentee landlord. "The earth is the Lord's, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it," is more than small talk (Ps 24:1). It is the affirmation that He possesses, governs, and provides for his creation. And in a very special way, the Lord provides for his elect. We see this in the life of Abraham as God called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans to possess a land that God would give him and his descendents. The journal of his travels is a record of God as provider. When God delivered Israel by Moses' leadership from Egypt they struck out into the wilderness and after a few days ran out of food. Even though they were great complainers, the Lord provided manna for them, and water where there was none. When besieged Samaria faced extreme famine, even though they were rebellious and led by a rebel king, God provided for them in such a way that their famine was turned around in one day by the divine routing of the Arameans (II Kings 6-7). The four Gospels record stories of Jesus feeding multitudes that fainted from hunger, and supplying the physical needs of countless people through healing and deliverance.

 

All of these stories from Scripture remind us that the Lord cares for his creation, and especially takes care of his elect. Jesus asks the question after telling the story of the unmerciful judge, "Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them" (Luke 18:7). And if we, being evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, "how much more will your Father who is heaven give what is good to those who ask Him" (Matt 7:11). In light of our Lord's great mercy and compassion for us, we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."

 

3. Divine ability

 

How can we pray such a large prayer in that across the globe millions are asking the Lord day by day to supply daily needs? "Give us this day" points to the ability of the Lord to accomplish what he commands. He has the supply, and so much so that Paul could tell the Philippians, "And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (4:19). The word is used of an outfitter that provides for a military unit all of the equipment and supplies they need as they set out on their journey. God's ability exceeds our needs.

 

We've grown accustomed to walking into well-stocked stores to take care of our needs and desires. Unlike stores in many Two-Thirds World nations, we find row after row of products that can be purchased day or night. But even the well-stocked American stores cannot handle an all-out run. On those few times in our area when snow or ice is predicted, the normally well-stocked bread and milk counters are emptied in a matter of a few hours. Flashlights and batteries are nowhere to be found. The inexhaustible supply of American goods is suddenly exhausted. But our God does not exhaust his supply. He can confidently tell us to call to him, "Give us this day our daily bread." And though every person on the planet cries out his supply is not threatened or diminished. His ability to hear us and to simultaneously provide for us is not stymied. The Psalmist expresses this so poignantly:

The eyes of all look to You,

And You give them their food in due time.

You open Your hand

And satisfy the desire of every living thing (145:15-16).


That is our Father in heaven before whom we bring our daily needs! His mercies are big, his compassion is great, and his ability is inexhaustible in meeting our needs.

 

II. Kingdom citizens as receivers

 

God is the Provider, while we are the receivers as kingdom citizens. It is true that the Lord provides for all living things - just as we have seen. But so many do not realize that it is the Lord that is providing for them. They assume that they are the masters of their fate, while kingdom citizens understand that the rule and provision of God's kingdom has come among us so that we can trust in his kindly, compassionate care for us. "Give us" asks from his hand to our own, that our God might give and we receive from him.

 

1. Our and Thee

 

Two plural pronouns help us to understand an important dynamic in God's supply of our needs. Give us this day our daily bread." We pray in solidarity with other believers, and perhaps even more so, we pray on behalf of our brethren. As fellow citizens in God's kingdom, we seek to ask of our King on behalf of others. Thomas Watson tells us that such praying "reproves narrow-spirited men who move within their own sphere only; who look only at themselves, and mind not the case of others; who leave others out of their prayers; if they have daily bread, they care not though others starve" [The Lord's Prayer, 201]. It reminds us that we are not to live our lives or do our praying as though we were the only person on a deserted island. We are to pray with a consciousness of others in the body of Christ; we are to pray with confidence that our King hears and answers; we are to pray with consistency for one another in the body. "The more excellent anything is," writes Watson, "the more it operates for the good of others... the more ennobled with grace, the more he besieges heaven with his prayers for others" [201].

 

The Christian life must not to be lived in isolation from other Christians, or without the conscious concern for one another. The "us" and "our" pronouns unite us as kingdom citizens, both in terms of daily need and divine supply. While we must pray for our own needs, and ourselves we must also make sure that our praying includes the regular prayer for others among us. It is proper to pray for yourself since you know your needs better than anyone else, and since you must develop that relationship of trust in the Lord as well. But you must also "bear one another's burdens" and "not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others" (Gal 6:2; Phil 2:4).

 

"Our" looks to "Thee." "Give us this day our daily bread" is not a random comment that we offer to an impersonal deity. It is "our" looking to "Thee" for the supply of daily bread. It is the creature looking to the Creator, the kingdom citizen looking to the King, the redeemed sinner looking to the Redeemer, the adopted child looking to the Father. This brings us back to the God-centered focus of this prayer. The Lord's Prayer is not so much about us getting stuff as it is about our discovering the great sufficiency of our God. It is not about requisitioning a heavenly supply room but about the children of God resting in the gracious mercies of the heavenly Father.

 

2. Dependence and trust

 

At the heart of this fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer is a relationship of dependence and trust. "Give us this day our daily bread," for upon You - O Lord - we depend. It is You that has created us - we've not created ourselves. We are Your people, the sheep of Your pasture. Like helpless sheep we look to You. We will surely wander into danger, and devour our goods unless You provide for us.

 

In the independent minded thought of modern evangelicals, we have difficulty with this. Yes, for the really big situations, we are glad to call upon God. But for "our daily bread," we can handle it just fine ourselves. We have good jobs. We have skilled minds and hands. We have bank accounts and lines of credit. But can it be that in our success and plenty that we have forgotten the most basic lesson in creation? He is God, and we are not.

 

Moses was mindful of this as he taught the generation that would inherit the Promised Land. Their danger was that of forgetting God due to their success and wealth. Unless they guarded themselves from such an idolatrous view, they would say, "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth" (Deut 8:17). The prescription that Moses gave was this, "But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day" (Deut 8:18). As with that generation, even so with us, we are to remember that it is the Lord that provides for us. We are to look to him in all things. As Gardiner Spring warns, "Great wealth is very apt to breed forgetfulness and contempt of God" [The Mercy Seat, 128].

 

Bill Murray reminded us of this in his exposition of Psalm 104 last week at our Mid-South Founders Conference. That passage identifies the breadth of creation on land, sky, and sea, and then offers this verity:

They all wait for You

To give them their food in due season.

You give to them, they gather it up;

You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good.

You hide Your face, they are dismayed;

You take away their spirit, they expire

And return to their dust.

You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;

And You renew the face of the ground (Psa 104:2730).


But what about our jobs and savings? Do we not take care of our own needs? This petition reminds us that the ability to earn our daily bread comes from God. As Derek Prime tells us, "To depend upon God's provision is not in conflict with earning our daily bread" [The Lord's Prayer for Today, 104]. However, in one moment all that we have can be gone. The economic news of the past year serves as a vivid reminder that fortunes can vanish like smoke. Some that were riding high in economic boon are now in the unemployment lines. Our good health and productivity today can change tomorrow. Our company can shut down before the week is up. Much of what we thought was stable has been clearly exposed as unstable and undependable. But not our God! "Give us this day our daily bread" is not simply for times of need but the recognition that even in good health, good economy, and good savings, we realize that every need we have is ultimately supplied by our God. "Prayer is a distinct recognition of dependence," declared Gardiner Spring [117]. As we look to the Lord each day for our daily bread we are acknowledging our dependence upon him and trust in his promises. And that is kingdom living.

 

3. Humility and gratitude

 

I would add that as we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are humbled to know that God is our provider. Let us not forget this as did the Israelites, and as did King Solomon. As my friend, Ray Pritchard has written, "The way a pauper will pray this prayer will differ from the way a prince will pray this prayer. But the principle is the same" [And When You Pray, 130]. Both are humbling themselves under the mighty hand of God. Both are acknowledging their own need and God as the provider. Both are admitting their inherent weakness and God's supply.

 

Humility and gratitude go together. In the first we realize the truth about ourselves and about God. In the second we realize that God does not give us what we deserve. In humility we admit that in spite of the appearance to others we are weak and helpless. In gratitude we admit our glad dependence upon the One who graciously cares for us.

 

III. The day as trainer

 

Scholars debate the precise meaning of the Greek term, "this day." It is an obscure one, found only here and Luke 11:3. Outside the Bible it is found only in an ancient papyri shopping list referring to one day's needs. Scholarly arguments do not change the meaning of the prayer. It is the conscious dependence of a kingdom citizen upon his King for each day's needs.

 

1. Bread for the day

 

Bread has long been a synonym for food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities of life. "Give us this day our daily bread" is a prayer that covers more than food. Augustine said it refers to "whatever serves for our well-being" [quoted by Thomas Watson, The Lord's Prayer, 203]. Herman Witsius writes that bread means "all those things the withholding of which gives pain to human nature" [The Lord's Prayer, 272]. It is the provisions that you need for each day so that you might live and serve unto the glory of God. The prayer asks for "daily bread," not "our daily dessert" [Pritchard, 129]. The language implies, "The measure of our bread that we need today, give to us."

 

So your "daily bread" covers more than your food; it is the necessities of life. It is not a prayer that the 'health and wealth' preachers can use since it does not lend credibility to asking beyond the basic needs of life. God may be pleased to add to "our daily bread" supplies of abundant measure. But we are told that our asking is to be for "daily bread." This can include health needs, taking care of our housing and utilities, and transportation, and education. It certainly involves our ability to serve as Christians, so whatever is necessary for us to continue service to one another would fall within the category of "our daily bread" - hospitality, caring for those in need, giving, mission work, etc.

 

Though the Lord might provide for a month or a year or more by his generosity, we are still to look to him for "daily bread." We are to consciously trust his supply day by day. If he is pleased to enlarge your cupboard, then it surely implies that he desires to use you in assisting others. Though each day, you are to continue to depend upon him.

 

2. Effects of prayer

 

What does this kind of praying do in our lives? How does it affect us? When you pray regularly, "Give us this day our daily bread" you will likely have a different attitude toward the things of this world. You begin to realize that "things" are not what matters -the Lord is your portion. You consider that bread, and all that it represents is temporal. You realize that life does not consist in the abundance of the things that you have (Luke 12:15). You also realize that your life, and all that you have is a gift from God each day - a gift to cherish and make much use of to the glory of God.

 

Praying for "daily bread" changes your worldview so that you find yourself contented with what God has provided. We place such a value on "things" in our way of life. Christians in much of the world are so thankful literally for "daily bread." Their meager incomes and modest lifestyles may be something we pity in the West. But perhaps we can learn more from them than they from us. Such kingdom citizens have set their affections on those things that do not perish, and trust the King for "daily bread." They have learned, like the Apostle Paul, to be content in whatever circumstances they find themselves (Phil 4:11-14). But that is what God has provided them, so they rejoice and give thanks for his provision even when by our standards it is quite modest. 

 

Conclusion

 

Kingdom citizens look to the Heavenly Father for each day's needs. And indeed that is our privilege because we have a God that is characterized by giving, and that calls upon us to discover his abundant mercies and sufficiency. We are challenged by this prayer to pray for one another - to be regular in lifting one another's needs before the Father so that all of us live in humility, gratitude, and dependence upon our Lord. Our Lord provides the bread sufficient for today. So let us look to him, and in so doing, may our whole view of life be changed to the glory of God.

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