Dec 23
10
Baptist Catechism 111
Q. 111. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them. (Matt. 6:11; Prov. 30:8,9; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; 4:4,5)
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 30:7–9
“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: 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.” (Proverbs 30:7–9, ESV)
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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.
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When those who have faith in Christ pray to God they are invited to pray to him as “Father”. And to distinguish him from earthly fathers we say, our Father in heaven. God is not confined to heaven, of course. He is in all places at all times. But heaven is a realm that God created in the beginning where he manifests his glory before the angels. When we pray, we are praying to our heavenly Father.
And our first and leading petition is that God’s name would be hallowed, honored, or glorified on earth just as it is in heaven. In heaven, God is praised day and night by his angels. And we are praying that God’s name would be praised here on earth too.
In the second petition, we pray that God’s kingdom will come. God is king over all. He sits enthroned in heaven. But we know that in this world there are two kingdoms – a kingdom of darkness and a kingdom of light. When we pray that God’s kingdom come we are praying that things would be on earth as they are in heaven – that all on earth would come to honor God as King. This will happen progressively in this age through the preaching of the Gospel, and fully in the age to come.
The third petition is “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. Again, we find a distinction between heaven and earth. In heaven, the angels obey and submit to God’s will perfectly. And we are to pray that we would do the same on earth.
Now, here is what I want you to recognize about the fourth petition. The fourth petition is about our earthly needs. In the fourth petition, we are praying, not for spiritual things, nor eternal things, but that the God of heaven would provide us with the things that we need to live here on earth. These are earthly things that we are to pray for under this petition.
One general observation that we can make from the outset is that God is concerned with providing for his children. Sometimes we talk as if earthy things are bad, and heavenly things are good. And yes, sometimes the scriptures do speak of “earthly” or “worldly” things in a negative way. But the scriptures do not portray the world and the things of this world as inherently evil. God created this world, brothers and sisters. This world was created good. The things of this earth are to be used and enjoyed to the glory of God. What makes worldly things worldly in a sinful sense? We make them sinful… when we misuse them. For example, money is not evil… but the love of money is. Food is not evil… but gluttony is. Alcohol is not evil… but drunkenness is. And sex is not evil… but fornication is. The point is this: when Christ taught his disciples to pray, “give us this day our daily bread”, he made it clear that God is concerned with providing for his children’s earthly needs.
The fourth petition is, “give us this day our daily bread”. Stated by itself it sounds kind of like a demand, but really it is a humble request.
“Bread”, as I have already suggested, stands for the basic things that we need to live in this world. What do we need to live physically speaking? We need food, water, and shelter. And these are the kinds of things that we are to pray for under the fourth petition.
And notice that this bread is called daily bread. This indicates two things: one, that we are to pray daily. And two, that we are to live in daily dependence upon God. We are not to pray weekly for weekly bread, nor monthly for monthly bread, but daily for daily bread. The Christian is to constantly look to God’s hand for provision.
When we pray “give us this day our daily bread” we are praying “that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them.” That is what our catechism teaches. I think this is very good. Let us consider each portion.
The phrase, “that of God’s free gift” reminds us that “daily bread” is a gift from God. Yes, he provides us with “daily bread” through natural means. Farmers farm, bakers bake, grocers sell, and we buy and eat. But behind all of that is God’s hand. He upholds the natural order. He sends the rain. He preserves societies. All of this is a gift from God. I wonder, do you think about that when you eat something as simple as a piece of bread? Do you recognize God’s grace in the bread? We should! And we should give him thanks.
The phrase, that “we may receive a competent portion” reminds us to pray, not for riches nor for luxury, but that God would give us what we need. If God has determined to give us more than we need – if he blesses us with wealth and with luxury – then that is a gift from him, but Christ did not teach us to pray for it. He taught us to pray for basic provision – “a competent [or adequate] portion” – “daily bread”.
The phrase, “of the good things of this life”, helps us to remember that the things of this life are good, for God made them. Paul wrote to Timothy, saying, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5, ESV).
And the phrase, “and enjoy His blessing with them” reminds us that it is right for us to take pleasure in the things of this world. Food and drink should be enjoyed. But how can we enjoy food and drink without becoming gluttons or drunkards? Two things: we are to enjoy food and drink in moderation, and I think this is key, we are to enjoy food and drink to the glory of God. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).
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Conclusion
You know, it is interesting that in Matthew 6 we find the Lord’s Prayer, and immediately after that, we find instructions regarding fasting, laying up treasures in heaven, and anxiety over the cares of this world – what we will eat and drink and put on. I see those topics in Matthew 6:166ff. as being a kind of expansion on what Jesus said regarding the fourth petition of pray, give us this day our daily bread. The most succinct way for me to say it is this: the prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”, is a remedy to a gloomy approach to the blessing of this world (don’t fast in a gloomy way), to an idolatrous love of the things of this world (store up treasures in heaven), and to anxiety (do not be anxious about your life). It is truly amazing what these little model petitions can do for the soul of the Christian when they are properly understood and faithfully prayed. In other words, this little model prayer, “give us this day our daily bread”, is a remedy to really big soul problems. It is a remedy to ungodly asceticism, to the idolatrous love of the things of this earth, and to anxiousness regarding a lack of earthly provision.
Are you anxious? Pray to your Father in heaven for daily bread. Are you struggling to enjoy the things of this life that God intends for you to enjoy to the glory of his name? Pray to your Father in heaven for daily bread, and thank him for it. Are you struggling against an ungodly and idolatrous love for the world and the things of this world? Pray to your Father in heaven for daily bread.
Q. 111. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. In the fourth petition, which is, “Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray that of God’s free gift, we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life and enjoy His blessing with them. (Matt. 6:11; Prov. 30:8,9; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; 4:4,5)
