Lord’s Day 50
Q125. What does the fourth request mean?
"Give us today our daily bread" means: Please take care of all our physical needs so we learn that you are the only source of everything good. Neither our hard work nor your gifts can help us without your blessing. Help us to stop trusting in other things and to put our trust in you alone.
Scripture Proofs — King James Version
Psalm 104:27–28
Psalm 145:15–16
“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.”
Matthew 6:25–34
“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”
Acts 14:17
Acts 17:25
James 1:17
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Deuteronomy 8:3
Psalm 37:16
Psalm 127:1–2
1 Corinthians 15:58
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 62
Psalm 146
Jeremiah 17:5–8
Hebrews 13:5–6
Parent Guide
Discuss this question together
Discussion Questions
- 1
What does "daily bread" include, according to the catechism?
- 2
Why does God want us to ask for what we need instead of just providing it without being asked?
- 3
What is one physical need God has provided for you today?
Illustration
A bird does not store food in a warehouse. Each morning it goes out and finds what God provides for that day. When we pray for "daily bread," we are asking God to feed us today and learning to trust him for tomorrow. He wants us to depend on him day by day.
Application
Before your next meal, thank God for the food in front of you. Name where it came from and who prepared it. Because God is the source of every good thing, saying grace at meals is a daily reminder that all provision flows from his hand.