An oft-quoted but seldom lived verse in the Bible is Matthew 4:4. The scene was Satan tempting Jesus in the wilderness. Knowing Jesus was hungry after forty days of fasting, the devil encouraged the Son of God to turn the scattered stones into bread. As the Creator of all things, this would not have been a difficult task for Jesus. A little later in His life, we will see Him making five loaves of bread multiply into enough to feed over 5,000 people.
So, certainly, the task of creating bread was not beyond Him. Jesus’s reply to Satan was one we all know well. He said, “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”. The answer stopped the devil in his tracks. Truth has a way of doing that. Jesus knew what we all must learn: we find life in the Word of God, not in anything else.
It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the thinking we need so much to live. For too many in this world, the worry about what they will eat that day is tragically real. The fear of not having enough money to cover the bills is also a harsh reality for so many. Still, others who don’t have day-to-day worries live with a scarcity mindset, believing the lie they must acquire as much as possible in life to be happy and make certain they get their fair share. But none of these things bring us lasting happiness or life. Only Jesus can do that.
We waste too much time in pursuit of food, money, and possessions. As we pursue the temporary, we neglect the eternal. Yes, we all need to eat. Each of us needs the money to pay the rent and utility bills. But God knows all about our needs and promises to provide for those who love Him (Matthew 6:31-33). Our worry is misplaced and self-centered. The Father is aware of our every need, and He loves us. We will not always have a way to provide for ourselves and our families, but God always will. He will never abandon us.
The Word of God is Jesus, and there is no life apart from Him. No amount of anything compares to the value of the smallest portion of Jesus. A full stomach will become empty again. Bills come new every month. And possessions are easily stolen, broken, or lost. Not Jesus. The love of Jesus is inexhaustible and can never be spent, lost, or stolen. We don’t live by food, money, or possessions alone. We live only by the Word of God. When we have nothing else, we still have Him. If we perish, we will perish clinging to Him and will awaken in His presence. Don’t waste your life pursuing what will only wear out and fade away. Put your trust in Jesus and pursue only Him. He is all you need.