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In response to this passed Sunday’s sermon at church, I am motivated to present to you the same call the guest pastor asked us all to answer: Feed the hungry.

This call is probably one of the most simple things we could do for others, yet as he pointed out to us, we often opt to pray for others when we should be doing something. Of course, we should continue to pray for people, but when we choose to only pray and not actually do something – that’s when there’s a problem. To pray for someone and then leave them hungry is absurd. We want to evangelize to people, but we forget that they have natural needs that need to be met – then we wonder why they won’t accept Christ. They’re too hungry!

Although Sunday’s sermon was not something most have never heard before, it was still powerful. Our guest reminded us that sometimes if we just fed people, that would solve many of our city’s issues. The crime rate would probably be the first to decline, because when people get hungry they get desperate, when they get desperate for food – for money and the things they need, that’s when they start robbing people. When they go to jail, we blame them and not those of us who choose ride around in BMWs and Cadillacs instead of using the extra funds to feed the needy.

We’ve got it twisted. Only in our country do we blatantly ignore people who are starving. It doesn’t make any sense to me how people can go on an expensive cruise  just off the shore of a third world country – eat and have a good time while the service workers are cleaning up after them and throwing food away.  All of this is happening while there are people literally only a few feet away who are starving to death.

The young pastor reminded us that it’s because most of us haven’t struggled – most of us have never been hungry to the point where we thought we’d die and didn’t know where our next meal was coming from. I’ve been hungry, yes, but I’ve never had to wonder when I was going to get a chance to eat again. I knew that even if it was food I didn’t really like, that it was still available to be eaten. Imagine, not knowing when you’ll receive another meal.

That’s what many people are experiencing – not just the homeless, although they are a prime example. Imagine how they view those of us who take what we have for granted. Imagine how the people in Haiti would feel if they knew how much water we waste, alone. Don’t even add in the food and how we waste money in so many other useless ways.

Anyway, I don’t want this to get much longer so I’ll wrap it up, the point is this – food costs money and it’ll cost your time to serve, but your work is needed. If you choose not to do your part, people will die. Whether it’s someone dying of starvation or whether it’s because a crime was committed in response to that hunger. People’s lives are at stake, and we each have a responsibility.

So let’s resolve to be a blessing by taking the time out to share a meal with someone in need. Just start there. Rather than judging or wondering how they got to be in their condition in the first place, just quiet your judging thoughts and provide food. That’s it – not asking for you to give them money, just food.

After you do that, then you can pray for them.

Who could you help today? When will you take the time to do it?

Image: Maggie Smith / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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