The Lord’s prayer includes a request to “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mt. 6:9-11). Later in his instruction, the Master teaches us not to be anxious about financial needs: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof” (6:34). Making it possible to avoid such anxiety is the previously given assurance: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things [food, clothing, shelter] shall be added unto you” (v. 33).
The conclusion we draw from this teaching is that we should give priority to seeking the kingdom whereas anxiety concerning our daily provisions reveals a lack of faith.
A parable on priorities
In Luke 12:16-21, Jesus taught a parable about setting proper priorities.
The man in the parable was greedy and only concerned with filling his barns to assure a comfortable retirement. “I will say to my soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry” (Lk. 12:19).
That very night the man died and left his wealth to others. Verse 21 concludes with the somber thought, “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” The parable clearly reveals the folly of placing too much attention on present wealth.
The right perspective
Proverbs 30:8-9 puts daily needs in true perspective: “Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.”
We must work
It is evident that we must all work because we have not as yet been freed from the curse placed upon us in Eden. We must earn our bread by the sweat of our brow.
God’s promise of assistance is dependent upon our willingness to work. Paul wrote of some who were unwilling to work, and were walking disorderly among the brethren. They were busybodies in the affairs of others. “This we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat” (II Thess. 3:8-12).
Slothfulness is sin
Proverbs 25:30-34 details the ways of a slothful man. His vineyard is neglected, thorns and thistles have taken over, and the stones of the fence are fallen apart. If we can, we must work but we are not to be anxious about our daily needs. We should not put our jobs ahead of the work of God or keeping His commands. So long as we are not slothful, He will provide our needs.
We should also note that we can mitigate the burden of work by looking upon it as a blessing and by practicing frugal living habits so that we are not constantly under a financial strain.
Application to ecclesial life
The ecclesia is like the vineyard referred to in Proverbs. In the ecclesial vineyard, we must be hard working and take advantage of opportunities to serve God diligently. The alternative can be devastating to our spiritual well-being. We can become like the briers and thorns in a neglected vineyard which eventually are good for nothing but being plucked up and burned.
God does nor forget our service to Him nor does He ever forget His promises. Keep our priorities right, put service to Him first, be energetic and not slothful and we will be among those “who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (Heb. 6:12).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One