Humility Breeds Thankfulness
“He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”
Deuteronomy 8:3, NRSV
Jesus quoted this verse when the devil challenged Him to change stones into bread (Matthew 4:4). Jesus was hungry after fasting for 40 days, but the reason He was in the desert was to experience humanity fully, not to use His powers to satisfy His physical hunger.
I have a picture hanging on the wall of my office. It is a picture of Whitehaven Beach in Queensland, Australia. It shows a long expanse of sand and water—a place where you can be totally alone with God. Underneath are the words, “Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” Every time I walk into my office, I am reminded that I am there not to satisfy my appetite, be it for money, dress or any other extravagances of the good life. My life and your life are to be committed to God, and to be disciplined to listen to His word and to follow His commandments. When we do that, then we will be given manna. God knows we need shelter, clothes and food, but we need to give thanks to Him for what we have and know that it comes from Him.
