Day 53 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Feeding the Hungry
Proverbs 10:3 [NKJV] The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the wicked.
The word Solomon used that is translated “soul” simply means breathing being. It is often used of animals. So, Solomon is not thinking on the Spiritual plane when he uses “soul.” The ESV translates this verse more accurately as, The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. He is talking about preserving the human body with food.
I have certainly known obedient Christians to go hungry, even in the USA where there are governmental safety nets like unemployment, Social Security, WIC and food stamps. Much more so in countries like India where Christians are oppressed, sometimes violently, and parts of Africa where there never seems to be enough and many people, Christians included, are always on the edge of starvation.
God gave Old Testament Israel many laws about how to ensure the poor don’t go hungry. For example, the Israelites were not to go through their fields or vineyards for a second time when harvesting, but rather were to leave that for the poor to pick. They were not to pick up the grain that was dropped and were not to harvest the corners of their land. Again, this was so that the poor could come and pick that. Gleaning grain left in the field is how Ruth and Naomi survived when they’d returned to Israel as widows. [See Ruth 2]
It is clear, then, that part of how God provides for the poor is that He asks us to be coworkers with Him on taking care of their needs. This is not just an Old Testament thing. Taking care of the poor is something that Jesus outlined as separating the sheep from the goats. Compare Matthew 25:35 with verse 42 - 35 'for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ... 42 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; [NKJV]
We believers, those who seek to be His sheep, are to be about the business of feeding the hungry. I don’t believe it matters to God if you are feeding poor neighbors by dropping off groceries at their doorsteps or creating sack lunches for a homeless shelter or halfway house or contributing to a food pantry or sending money to an international relief organizations. But there is no vagueness about Jesus’ words. The sheep feed people who are hungry or they actually aren’t sheep at all.
Old and New Testaments also align on the fact that we must also feed even our enemies when they are in need. Proverbs 25:21 [NIV] says If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. Romans12:20 [NIV] says On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink…
God is focused on the spiritual and concerned about the eternal, to be sure. He does ask us to participate in preaching the Gospel so that we help to feed those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. However, He also knows that He gave us physical bodies that require food. He is concerned about our bodies too. A starving person is going to be more open to the Gospel message if we are feeding body and spirit.
As with any need, God could miraculously intervene and feed the poor. He feed Israel with manna in the wilderness – which just showed up on the ground six days a week. At one point He sent quail to them as well. [See Exodus 16 for both] He could also miraculously call people without our intervention. But the Father seeks coworkers in all His works. He bids us to do His work of providing for the spiritual and physical needs of the world around us.
If you are hungry, sweet sister, I pray that our Loving Father will send you a sheep or a flock of His sheep to help you. Please seek help from your church or find a church nearby to help. Do take advantage of the governmental support if you live where it is available. God does not shame the poor, whether their circumstance comes as a result of their own decisions or events that are out of their control. He ensured that His people understand that we have a responsibility to help. He commands us to help.
Most of us, at least in the USA, have the means of helping the poor. We have enough for ourselves and at least a little to spare for others who are in need. If you are not currently involved in some way with putting food in the bellies of hungry people, I encourage you to find a way to do so. There are many ways to help and many programs that you can support.
Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us (at least until He returns). [Mark 14:7] It is vital to our own spiritual health that we help them. God promises to provide for His poor children. He does so through you and me.
Prayer — Father God, Help me to do more for the poor – to seek ways to help. As you provide for me from Your great bounty (everything on the earth belongs to You), please guide me on where and how to give food to the hungry near or far. Help me to be fearless in sharing food with friend, neighbor, stranger or foe in need. You are the Provider of all good things and I want to be like You, providing for others in need as well. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Your thoughts —
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