Matthew 7:9-11 speaks of giving a stone instead of bread. The force of Jesus’ words is increased if we realize that the bread of ancient Bible lands was of a size and shape like that of a flat, round stone.

But if asked for bread, a fish, or an egg, what kind of father would give his child a stone, a serpent, or a scorpion?

¹⁸ Jesus next compared the dealings of an earthly parent with the actions of God toward the members of His family of worshipers. If we, though being more or less wicked because of inherited sinfulness, give good gifts to our children, how much more we should expect our heavenly Father to give the splendid gift of his holy spirit to his loyal servants who humbly ask for it!

19. (a) What is intimated by Jesus’ words recorded at Luke 11:11-13 and Matthew 7:9-11? (b) If we are led by holy spirit, how will we view our trials?

¹⁹ Jesus’ words intimate that we should ask God for more of His holy spirit. If we are led by it, we will not ‘complain about our lot in life’ and view trials and disappointments as being really injurious to us. (Jude 16) True, “man, born of woman, is short-lived and glutted with agitation,” and many have not lived to see the end of their problems or heartaches. (Job 14:1) But let us never view our trials as stones, serpents, and scorpions that the Hearer of prayer has somehow handed us. He is the very epitome of love and does not try anyone with evil things. Rather, he gives us ‘every good gift and perfect present.’ Ultimately, he will make everything right for all who love and fear him. (James 1:12-17; 1 John 4:8) Those who have walked in the truth for years know from experience that some of their hardest trials have, through prayer and faith, worked out to their benefit and have increased the fruitage of God’s spirit in their lives. (3 John 4) In fact, in what better way could we learn dependence on our heavenly Father and be helped to cultivate the spirit’s fruitage of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, and self-control?​—Galatians 5:22, 23.