For
I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a
stranger and you welcomed me… Matthew 25:35
Since we are focusing on
world hunger this month, our devotionals this week will focus on that issue as
well. Hunger is an issue that affects
all mankind, on every level, locally, nationally, and internationally. It is no discriminator of race or geography. According to the United Nations World Food
Program, 1 in 8 people in the world do not get enough food to lead an active
and healthy life, which equates to more than 800 million worldwide. This threatens global health even more than
AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.
It is a huge issue and
although we may not be able to solve the problem completely, as Christians we
are called and commanded by Christ to help those in need.
- Proverbs 21:13 says Whoever closes his ear to the cry of
the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
- Proverbs 28:27 says Whoever gives to the poor will not
want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.
- Psalm 41:1 says Blessed is the one who considers the
poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
- Matthew 22:34-40 says But
when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered
together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him.
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him,
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And
the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and
the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There are countless other
verses besides these that address the issue of our responsibility to help when
we can. Compassion for the poor,
undernourished, and loving our neighbor all go hand in hand. When we care for someone’s physical need,
often we may have the opportunity to care for their spiritual need as well, or
at least they may see the hand of God and feel His love through our
actions. His presence in our lives is
evident to all when we care about others and take action.
Scripture to
Claim:
Men will glorify our Father
in heaven not only because of what we say, but because our lights are shining and
they have seen our good deeds (Matt 5:16).
