Basic Sustenance

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35

“…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14

It is said that when someone was in prison “back in the day,” he could expect to be fed only bread and water. This is how they showed it in the old black and white Westerns, and I’m sure it had some basis in fact. (When the Andy Griffith show came along, Aunt Bea would make beautiful trays of food from her own table for the prisoners in the little Mayberry jail. But I digress.)

Bread and water are considered the basic necessities for life. The story is told of a little old man who happily lived in poverty. One day when someone came by to check on him, he was found at a table with his hands folded and his eyes looking toward heaven. He was praying over the simple meal of bread and water laid out before him. He prayed, “All this, and You too?”

Jesus knew that we needed the basics, and He declared Himself to be just that. He is the one needful thing. While Martha was bustling about her serving duties, Mary was commended for finding the one thing that is needed (Luke 10:42)—to sit at His feet and listen to Him.

Our wants are always for more, new, bigger, better, or just different, but our needs are few. Paul said, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Paul then wrote to Timothy, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Our basic need is for Jesus. He will see that we have food and clothing, but let’s be content with Him as the one needed thing—the one we will never lose, for He holds us in His hand.

Lord, may we be content to have You. With You, we have all we need. Keep our eyes from straying to lesser things. Keep our hearts from coveting the stuff of this life. May we be found zealous for You in our lives. Amen.