Feeding the flesh Or Feeding the the soul?
On Saturday morning, I encountered a Facebook post that raised a question about the supposed failure of Christians to feed the poor as Jesus did.
I did not peruse the comments section, but I remembered a Bible passage, which states:
PJesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
?? Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty" ( John 6: 26-35).
While food is important for satisfying physical hunger, it is only temporary. Jesus reminded those following him that those who seek spiritual fulfillment in Jesus Christ will find lasting satisfaction.
He rebuked them for prioritizing their physical hunger over their spiritual well-being, as they were only following him for the sake of being fed.
In today's society, we witness a similar phenomenon as in Jesus's time, where people show no interest in hearing the word of God or accepting Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Instead, they prioritize the physical benefits of attending church.
My mind is drawn to a scripture in Corinthians that highlights the fleeting nature of physical desires, specifically 'Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, but God will destroy them both' (1 Corinthians 6:13, NIV).
The Apostle Paul speaks about the connection between our physical bodies and our spirituality in this passage. He draws an analogy between our stomachs being designed for food and food being meant to nourish our stomachs, and our bodies being designed for God and His desire for a relationship with us.
Paul argues that just as our stomachs and the food we eat are temporary, our physical bodies are also temporary and will eventually be destroyed. What's important to focus on, he says, is not our physical bodies or the things we consume, but rather our spiritual lives and our relationship with God.
God is concerned with our spiritual well-being and our relationship with Him. Just as our stomachs are designed to digest food, our souls are designed to connect with God. And just as food nourishes our bodies, God nourishes our souls.
Furthermore, believers are enjoined to prioritize the cultivation of their spiritual lives, instead of being overly engrossed in transitory physical pleasures and desires. This emphasis is grounded in the understanding that our souls are eternal, while our bodies are temporal, and that our true worth resides in the former.
In essence, Paul advises us all against attachment to material things, as they are fleeting, and instead encourages a focus on the enduring connection with God.
Marcel and Jackie Bruff
@walkgoodinchrist
Comments