our daily bread

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Dexu Xia

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Nov 2, 2017, 3:24:51 AM11/2/17

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God Provides

Those who work their land will have abundant food. Proverbs 12:11

Outside my office window, the squirrels are in a race against winter to bury their acorns in a safe, accessible place. Their commotion amuses me. An entire herd of deer can go through our back yard and not make a sound, but one squirrel sounds like an invasion.

The two creatures are different in another way as well. Deer do not prepare for winter. When the snow comes they eat whatever they can find along the way (including ornamental shrubs in our yard). But squirrels would starve if they followed that example. They would be unable to find suitable food.

Our needs will never exhaust God’s supply.

The deer and the squirrel represent ways that God cares for us. He enables us to work and save for the future, and He meets our need when resources are scarce. As the wisdom literature teaches, God gives us seasons of plenty so that we can prepare for seasons of need (Prov. 12:11). And as Psalm 23 says, the Lord leads us through perilous places to pleasant pastures.

Another way that God provides is by instructing those with plenty to share with those in need (Deut. 24:19). So when it comes to provision, the message of the Bible is this: Work while we can, save what we can, share what we can, and trust God to meet our needs.

Thank You, Lord, for the promise that You will meet our needs. Help us not to fear or doubt. We’re grateful that You’re watching over us and that our cries for help reach Your ear.

Our needs will never exhaust God’s supply

上帝供应

耕种自己田地的，必得饱食。-箴言12章11节

在我办公室的窗外，有好几只松鼠正忙着在冬季来临前，把橡子埋藏在既安全又存取方便之处。它们窜进窜出的情景把我逗乐了。一整群的鹿经过我家后院都可以悄然无声，但一只松鼠的骚动听起来就像大军压境一样。

这两种动物也有其他方面的差异。鹿无须为冬天存粮，当白雪覆盖大地时，它们总是能四处找到食物（包括我家后院里观赏用的灌木丛）。但松鼠若是像鹿一样便会挨饿，因为它们在冬天找不到合适的食物。

鹿和松鼠代表上帝以不同的方式照顾我们。祂使我们能够工作，好为将来做准备。当资源短缺时，祂也供应我们的需要。如同圣经的智慧书所教导的，上帝给我们丰收的季节，让我们为欠缺的时日做好预备（箴言12章11节）。也像诗篇23篇说的，上帝领我们经过死荫的幽谷，到可安歇的青草地。

上帝也会以另一种方式供应我们，就是教导那些拥有的人与缺乏的人分享（申命记24章19节）。所以论到供应，圣经的信息是：尽力工作，尽力储蓄，尽力分享，且信靠上帝供应我们所需。

主啊，感谢祢应许供应我们一切所需。
求祢帮助我们不怀疑、不惧怕。祢时刻看顾我们，听我们的呼求，我们为此深深地感恩！