Most of us were taught to save for a rainy day. Of course that meant for our rainy day, not someone else's. Since millions in the world are having rainy days of deprivation, starvation, and death, there's no need to save for their rainy days. They desperately need the money now. Savings accounts, insurance policies, and investments throw off God's economic system. He's giving everyone their "daily bread," but some are hogging extra while others are deprived.
We're not owners but stewards. We have no right to hold back God's gifts. By doing this, we create other people's rainy days by our unauthorized planning for the future. That's why the Lord condemned as a fool the man who had "blessings in reserve for years to come" (Lk 12:19). We likewise are not only soon to die but are causing others' premature death through our disruption of God's economic system. God plans as a mother cooking the family meal, making enough for everybody. All the family has to do is share. If the first one to get the bowl takes too much, the last one goes without. Since we pray: "Give us today our daily bread," let's act accordingly (Mt 6:11).
| PRAYER: | Father, give me faith to participate in Your economic system and to get out of the world's system. |
| PROMISE: | Abraham "never questioned or doubted God's promise; rather, he was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God, fully persuaded that God could do whatever He had promised." –Rm 4:20-21 |
| PRAISE: | Phil tithes, gives alms, and lives a simple lifestyle in which he trusts his Father to provide for his basic needs. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College