Exposition of the Shorter Catechism, Question 14
Concerning our Dayly Bread.
Quest. 14. 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 Gods free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life; and enioy his Blessing with them.
Q. 1. Why is this Petition placed after the three former?
A. Because those concern immediately and generally Gods Glory, in the advancement of his Name, Kingdom and Will, which ought to be preferred to all our personal concerns, Psal. 69.9. For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Acts 21.13. For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to dye at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus.
Q. 2. Why is it put before the two following Petitions?
A. Not for its worth, but for its order; for we can have no Spiritual Blessings unless we have a Natural Being in this Life.
Q. 3. What kind of Bread is here meant?
A. Not Spiritual Bread, or our Lord Christ, (as some) but Corporal and Temporal.
Q. 4. What is included in this word Bread?
A. Not that only which we call strictly B…ad, but all the good things of this present Life.
Q. 5. Do we hereby beg pure necessities only?
A. No, we pray for conveniencies for our comfort; as well as necessaries for our life.
Q. 6. Do we herein pray only for personal good things for our being?
A. No, we pray for civil good things for our condition, that according to our degree in the World in which God hath placed us, we may have a convenient allowance:
Q. 7. Do we pray here for our selves only?
A. No, but also for our Charge, Children and Family; that under and with us they may have the good things of this Life.
Q. 8. Why do we pray to God for these good things, can we not get them our selves, or our fellow creatures give them to us?
A. Not without God: Whatever we have of these things they are from God; who ever be the second cause or instrument; if our selves, God gives us ability and success to get them; if others, God inclined their hearts, and opened their hands to bestow them, Deut. 8.17, 18. And thou say in thine heart, my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God; for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.
Q. 9. Why do we pray to God to give us Bread?
A. Because the least crumb of Bread is a free gift, and never can be merited by all we can do or suffer; Luke 17.10. So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all these things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants.
Q. 10. Why are all these good things couched under the expression Bread?
A. (1.) Because Bread is one of the most necessary and useful things to preserve Life. (2.) Because we must not ask delicacies and dainties of God.
Q. 11. What is meant by day in the Petition?
A. Either (1.) a Natural day of twenty four hours: Or (2.) the day of our whole life.
Q. 12. Why do we pray for Dayly bread?
A. Because God must give us the mercies and good things of every day, or else we cannot have them.
Q. 13. Why should we not pray for weekly, or monthly, or yearly Bread, as well as dayly?
A. (1.) Because 'tis fit we should be still sensible of our dependance upon God. (2;) Because we do frequently pray to God, and so exert our Graces, and maintain communion with him, and dayly render thanks for dayly favour, Psalm 55.17. Evening and morning, and at noon will I pray, and cry aloud; and he shall hear my voice.
Q. 14. What need we to pray for Dayly bread when we may have stores laid up for years?
A. They that have the good things of this Life need to pray this Petition, as well as they that have them not. Not that they may have Bread; but that it may be Bread to them; for except God give his Blessing upon it, Bread would be ashes and not sustaneous; neither could all the comforts of this Life do us any good, Isa. 3.1. For behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts doth take away from Ierusalem, and from Iuda, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water. Mal. 2.1, 2. And now O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If you will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and will curse your blessings; yea I have cursed them already, because you do not lay it to heart.
Q. 15. Why do we pray only for dayly Bread, or a competency, may we not pray for abundance and riches?
A. No, because Riches are a great snare and temptation, Matth. 19.23, 24. Then said Iesus unto his disciples, Verily, I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Prov. 30.8, 9. Remove far from me vanity and lyes, 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.
Q. 16. What shall we then do with Riches, if Providence cast them upon us, shall we cast them away?
A. No, for some of the best of Men, and greatest of Gods favorites, have lived and dyed rich. But (1.) We must wean our hearts from them. Psal. 62.10. Trust not in oppression, and become not vaine in robbery: if riches increase set not your heart upon them. (2.) Be thankful for them, and (3.) Fruitful with them in acts of Piety and Charity. 1 Tim. 6.17, 19. Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Q. 17. Wherefore is the Bread called our Bread?
A. Not because we are absolute Lords and Possessors of it, for so 'tis Gods only. Psal. 24.1, 2. The earth is the Lords, and the fulness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the Seas, and estabilished it upod the floods. Psal. 50.10, 12. for every beast of the forrest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. If I were hungry, I would not tell thee, for the world is mine and the fulness thereof. But (1.) Because we must have a Covenant right to it. and (2.) A civil right; we must come lawfully and honestly by, and so keep the good things of this life. 2 Thes. 3.10. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should …e eat.
Q. 18. Having prayed for our daily Bread; need we to labour and endeavour to get it?
A. Yes; we must labour in good and honest callings, Gods blessing and Mans industry must concur towards the present maintenance of life, Psal. 128.1, 2. Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord: that walketh in his ways, for thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Prov. 10.4, 22. He becometh poor that dealeth with aslack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. The blessing of the Lord maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
Q. 19. What is the first Inference from it?
A. That we must not seek great matters for our selves, neither make them the matter of prayer to God; nor the end and design of our labours and callings among Men.
Q. 20. What is a second Inference from hence?
A. That having Food and Rayment, we must be therewith content, and therefore thankful. 1 Tim. 6.8. And having food and rayment let us be therewith content. 1 Thes. 5.18. In every thing give thanks.
Q. 21. What is the third Inference?
A. That we ascribe not our success in the World to our own skill and industry, for the wisest, and most industrious do sometimes labour in the fire, and put their gain in a bag of holes; but to Gods free donation to us, and to his Blessing upon our endeavours, Gen. 33.5, 11. And he lift up his eyes, and saw the the women and the children; and said, who are those with thee? And he said, the children which God hath graciously given thy Servant.—Take, I pray thee my blessing that is brought to thee, because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. Deut 28.3. Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. ver. 6. Blessed shalt thou when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.