True Grit

A Days Wage

The Food Stamp Program, now referred to as SNAP since 2008, was established in 1939, discontinued in 1943, and permanently reinstated in 1961 by the USDA. The program's history remains significant today due to its longstanding role in supporting individuals and families in need. For the past 60 years, SNAP has consistently operated without interruption, remaining functional even during periods of government shutdown. That was until today. 42 million people plus will not have any food or governmental support. But why such a monumental event, that millions have not really investigated the root cause of the famine that is now just begun. This famine is not just food; it is deeper than that it is Spiritual on a huge scale. Even affecting some that sit in the congregation today. As we open our Word of God this morning to Rev. 6:5-6/Rev. 13:6-7 our lesson unfolds and God’s proclamation will be announced on this world.

Revelation 6:5–6 “And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”

Revelation 13:16–17 KJV 1900

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

A Day's Wage: The Cost of Comfort

Bible Passage: Revelation 6:5-6

In Revelation 6:5-6, the breaking of the third seal reveals a rider on a black horse, symbolizing economic hardship and scarcity, where a day's wage is only sufficient to buy bread, illuminating the dire consequences of sin and judgment during the end times.

Application: This passage compels Christians to reflect on their reliance on material possessions and the fleeting nature of worldly wealth. It serves as a reminder to focus on the eternal hope and provision found in Christ, encouraging believers to live generously and prioritize spiritual richness over material comfort.

Teaching: The sermon could teach that God's judgment can bring about situations that challenge our understanding of provision and sufficiency. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's faithfulness even amidst scarcity and to remember that true sustenance is found in Christ.

How this passage could point to Christ: In the context of the Bible, this passage points to Christ as the ultimate answer to our spiritual and physical needs. He is the Bread of Life, the one who sustains us eternally, contrasting with the temporary and inadequate provisions of this world.

True sustenance comes from Christ alone, who calls us to trust Him even in times of economic hardship and uncertainty.

1. Revelation of Scarcity

Revelation 6:5

You could explore how the revelation of the black horse emphasizes the physical and economic hardships that accompany God's judgment. The scarcity depicted here can lead us to reflect on the transience of our material resources and remind us that our ultimate security cannot be found in such things. Introducing the idea that Christ is our eternal provision, believers may be encouraged to place their trust in Jesus, who is the Bread of Life, during their times of need.

2. Reality of Economic Imbalance

Revelation 6:6

Maybe you can highlight the prophecy's emphasis on economic imbalance and the strain it represents. The words, "a quart of wheat for a denarius", speak to a time when a whole day's work yields barely enough sustenance. This image can serve as a powerful reminder for the congregation to consider where they seek fulfillment and to prioritize eternal riches over temporal needs. Encouraging believers to live in faith, this point can underscore reliance on Christ as our sufficient provider.

2 Kings 6:24–27 KJV 1900

And it came to pass after this, that Ben-hadad king of Syria gathered all his host, and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass’s head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. And as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said, If the Lord do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?

I Samuel to Esther Chapter 6

If the LORD do not help] The translation in the text is decidedly better than the marginal rendering. Some prefer to render—“Nay—let Jehovah help thee. Whence shall I help thee?”

out of the barnfloor, &c.] The king means that both were empty—that he had no longer any food in store; and therefore could not help the woman. Cp.