Where Are YOU Looking?

Before we bought out last refrigerator, we were in Sears one day checking out what selections they had to offer.  As my husband and I walked through the appliance section of the store, I noticed a little girl running from one refrigerator to another.  She was probably only three or four years old and cute as a button.  At each fridge she would grab the handle, give it a hard tug, open the door and peer in, then slam the door and go to the next fridge in line and do the same thing.  After she did this a few times I heard the little girl’s mother ask her why she was doing that.  The child looked at her mommy so seriously and said, “I’m hungry! I’m looking for something to eat!”  I could not help but laugh!  I’m sure she must have been used to going to a well-stocked refrigerator in her home to get snacks and just assumed that ALL fridges had food in them. 

As grownups, we would never try to find a snack in the refrigerators on the show room floor in Sears!  We know better.  But I wonder how many times we look for soul nourishment in places where none exists?  The world tells us that we will be satisfied (full) if we get the right education, the best job, the perfect mate, the most money, the desired body weight/image, etc.  All of those things can be good.  All of those things can add to our lives. But none of those things, in and of themselves, can nourish our souls.  That can only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ.   John 6:35 says this:  “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

There are multitudes of hungry people in the world. Contrary to the opinions of some, spiritual hunger is more important to be fed than physical hunger.  Jesus said in Mark 8:36, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” But until we are ‘’alive’’ in Christ though salvation through faith we cannot receive spiritual food.  After salvation spending time with Jesus through Bible study and prayer then gives nourishment to our new life in Him.

Spiritual hunger is just as real as physical hunger and just as important to be fed. But we mustn’t focus only on spiritual hunger when someone is physically hungry also!  It is our duty as Christians to help the poor and the hungry.  Jesus said that when we do this for “the least of these’’, (Matthew 25:37-40) it’s just like we are doing it for Him.

Let’s just make sure that we are looking for healthy and wholesome foods….both physical and spiritual…in the right places!  Not in empty refrigerators or empty promises of this world!

May God bless you!

Marilyn