Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Need not Greed
Exodus 16:12 - 16
"This is what the Lord has commanded: "Each one is to gather as much as he needs. "(Exodus 16:16)
Exodus 16:12 - 16
"This is what the Lord has commanded: "Each one is to gather as much as he needs. "(Exodus 16:16)
The Lord said to Moses, "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, "At twilight you will eat meat and in the morning you will be filled with bread." God gave them meat in the form of quail and bread in the form of "manna." The manna was rained from heaven and it appeared when the dew was gone. They were to gathered manna every morning. We are hereby taught to be prudent and diligent in providing food for ourselves and our families. We should be working and eating our own bread, and not the bread of idleness or deceit. God's bounty leaves room for man's duty, even in the case of manna that was rained from heaven. We should be content with our needs being satisfied. Israelites could go to sleep in their tents trusting in God's providence that God would give them their daily bread.
Prosperity or Luxury: The Bible certainly teaches that God wants to bless and provide for His people, but the instructions given for the daily harvest of manna illustrates God's definition of prosperity. The people were not allowed to gather more than they could comfortably eat and if they did, that extra manna would rot in an extremely foul way. Perhaps this is what James had in his mind when he said, "Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes....." (James 5: 2 & 3). Many think that prosperity and luxury are synonyms. God told the Israelites they could gather what they could eat. Luxury is like having more than you can eat. Luxury is extravagance. Lord said, "Each one is to gather as much as he needs." This verse is very reminiscent of the clause in Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." Both are very much part of God's philosophy of providence for His people. He will gladly provide for us each day, depending on our needs.
God Will Provide: All the assurance, the believer in Christ needs is the faithfulness of God. To demand more is like walking in the same spirit of disbelief as those of Israelites who tried to save some manna for the next day. David himself learned the lesson of God's providence and declares in Psalm 37:25, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Apostle Paul after years of faith-walking learned to trust in God on a day-by-day basis and says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and reached Canaan the manna stopped. God's provision for us is like that too. He brings us manna when we need it most and cuts off the supply when we don't. There is no need to greed for more and more!
Prosperity or Luxury: The Bible certainly teaches that God wants to bless and provide for His people, but the instructions given for the daily harvest of manna illustrates God's definition of prosperity. The people were not allowed to gather more than they could comfortably eat and if they did, that extra manna would rot in an extremely foul way. Perhaps this is what James had in his mind when he said, "Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes....." (James 5: 2 & 3). Many think that prosperity and luxury are synonyms. God told the Israelites they could gather what they could eat. Luxury is like having more than you can eat. Luxury is extravagance. Lord said, "Each one is to gather as much as he needs." This verse is very reminiscent of the clause in Lord's Prayer, "Give us this day our daily bread." Both are very much part of God's philosophy of providence for His people. He will gladly provide for us each day, depending on our needs.
God Will Provide: All the assurance, the believer in Christ needs is the faithfulness of God. To demand more is like walking in the same spirit of disbelief as those of Israelites who tried to save some manna for the next day. David himself learned the lesson of God's providence and declares in Psalm 37:25, "I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread." Apostle Paul after years of faith-walking learned to trust in God on a day-by-day basis and says in Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."
When the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and reached Canaan the manna stopped. God's provision for us is like that too. He brings us manna when we need it most and cuts off the supply when we don't. There is no need to greed for more and more!
Prayer:
Oh my God! Source of all mercy! I believe in your provisions. Help me to
trust in you and not to greed for more. Please provide for my daily needs. Amen
Oh my God! Source of all mercy! I believe in your provisions. Help me to
trust in you and not to greed for more. Please provide for my daily needs. Amen
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
God gives us enough to be thankful to him each day.
Christian Education Forum, Diocese of NAE of the Mar Thoma Church