How to Thrive

“But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

For forty days and nights, Jesus had gone without food and he had become very hungry. About that time, the devil shows up with an idea. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” Jesus was the Son of God, and he certainly could have turned the stones to bread. But Satan was asking Jesus to use his power and authority to serve himself rather than to depend on the Father for His provision. Jesus was being tested, but instead of turning stones to bread, Jesus quotes scripture.

During their time between slavery and the promised land, God’s people were also being tested. They, too, became very hungry. God provided a new food for them called manna. He did it, the Bible says, to teach them that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. God gave specific instructions on how much manna to gather and what would happen if they did not obey his word. Israel was learning how to depend on God for their provision. They were learning how to live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. 

By not succumbing to temptation, Jesus was teaching us that there’s more to life than just surviving. The Word of God gives us everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. We need food to survive, but we need the Word of God to thrive.