Banker's bread

How's this for a headline:

BANKERS STRUGGLE AS BONUSES ARE LIMITED TO $500,000

If you're anything like me, you'll read that and scoff at their decadence. With million-dollar salaries and million-dollar bonuses, how can they struggle financially with anything at all? For most of us, it would be a dream come true to have that much money! So they might not be able to live in the very best areas or send their children to the very best private schools anymore, but they are certainly not qualified to "struggle"! Compare them to the low-paid English bank staff who rely on their bonuses to pay the bills, and you see the difference between want and need.

Unfortunately, I must take the log out of my own eye first. You see, like all human beings, I am capable of permanent expansion to encompass any salary into my need-o-meter. I've seen this in me recently, as my husband and I have gotten used to having more and more money. We decided a few weeks ago that I need a laptop. We already have a very good computer, but we both want to use it at the same time, so having a laptop means we can both be on the internet at the same time. Now, having spent some money, we need to save for that distant day when we are ready to buy a house. What does God say about this?

Give us this day our daily bread. (ESV)

The Lord's Prayer certainly does not cater for my concept of needs, let alone those of the bank bosses. All it asks for is bread for today. I think in context it is fair to take 'bread' as a metaphor for the very basic human needs: food, water, clothing and shelter (see Matt 6:25-27). But even with this expansion, I am forced to radically reassess my 'needs'!

Even more radical than basic human needs is the desert principle at work here. When the Israelites were fed by manna in the desert, they were able to collect only enough food for that day. Any saved for the following day would be rotten beyond consumption by morning. The provision for our needs that God promises is on a day-by-day basis (rather than being given our weekly, monthly or yearly bread) – no saving for tomorrow and utter trust as you go to sleep at night that He will provide at daybreak.

I don't think this means that saving for something or buying things we want is wrong. But it does force us to recognise that God provides for our needs every single day, and all extra is an overflow of His blessing.

This recognition is essential for realising the community significance of Jesus' prayer. The Lord's Prayer starts with the word 'our' – a collective possessive pronoun. It is not until we reach the first request that the significance of the communal prayer comes into its own. Asking for daily bread is a group request that depends on each individual's true knowledge of their needs. God will provide, but it requires community to ensure that each person's needs are met.

Especially in this time of worldwide financial difficulty, many families are going to be struggling to pay the rent or mortgage, keep their children clothed, and even afford food. The overflow of blessing that I have been given allows God to provide for others in need through me. This is Acts 2:45 in action: 'Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need'. In other words, harvesting their excess, they provided for each other as a community of believers.

Am I prepared to really see the difference between my needs and my wants? And when I see the incredible excess in which I live, am I prepared to also see the real needs of my brothers and sisters in Christ, and generously give what I have in excess to serve them?

My Father, I am in awe of how much I have, and rejoice in Your generous provision. I ask that You would help me to see what I have with Your eyes, see the need of others with Your heart, and respond to that need with a generosity that reflects Your own. Amen