What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
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.
Proofs
- In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matthew 6:11)
- 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. (Proverbs 30:8; Genesis 28:20; 1 Timothy 4:4–5)
Additional Exposition
Section 1
Are temporal blessings forfeited?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Cursed is the ground for thy sake, (Genesis 3:17)
But are they promised?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: My God shall supply all your wants, (Philippians 4:19)
Should we therefore pray for them?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: O that thou wouldst bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, (1 Chronicles 4:10)
Practical response
Should we pray for temporal blessings with religious views?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: That we may give to him that needeth, (Ephesians 4:28)
And should we only pray for a competency of them?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Feed me with food convenient for me, (Proverbs 30:8)
But above all should we entreat God’s blessing upon them?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: And it came to pass as he sat at meat with them, he took bread and blessed it, and gave to them, (Luke 24:30)
And are they then like to be most comfortable to us?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For every creature is sanctified by the word of God and prayer, (1 Timothy 4:5)
Practical response
Should we pray for the comforts of life believingly?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, (Genesis 32:12)
And yet submissively?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: If he say, I have no delight in thee; behold here I am, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him, (2 Samuel 15:26)
Should our prayers be attended with suitable endeavours?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For thou hast eat the labour of thine hands, (Psalm 128:2)
And should we pray for others as well as ourselves?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Forget not the congregation of the poor, (Psalm 74:19)
Practical response
Should the bread that we pray for be our own bread?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: That we may eat our own bread, (2 Thessalonians 3:12)
And not the bread of deceit?
Answer: No.
Proof: For, though the bread of deceit is sweet to a man, yet afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel, (Proverbs 20:17)
Nor the bread of oppression?
Answer: No.
Proof: For God shall break in pieces the oppressor, (Psalm 72:4)
Nor the bread of idleness?
Answer: No.
Proof: For ’tis said of the virtuous woman, that she eateth not the bread of idleness, (Proverbs 31:27)
But above all, must we pray for the bread of our souls?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Lord, evermore give us this bread, (John 6:34)
Section 5
Doth this petition exclude an anxious thoughtfulness for futurity?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Take no thought for the morrow, (Matthew 6:34)
But doth it forbid a prudent thoughtfulness?
Answer: No.
Proof: Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways—she provideth her meat in the summer, (Proverbs 6:6, 8)
Doth it teach us to cast all our care upon God?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: For he careth for us, (1 Peter 5:7)
And to look to him for success in our several callings?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Establish thou the work of our hands upon us, (Psalm 90:17)
And to ascribe all our prosperity to him?
Answer: Yes.
Proof: Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, (Deuteronomy 8)