Starving for the Word

I read this morning that recent figures place 1 in 7 Americans in poverty. That's kind of a startling statistic since we also live in what is considered to be one of the wealthiest nations of the world. I don't see people dying from famine as they do in other countries, so the growing numbers of people experiencing poverty in this country are not so obvious to me.

What does capture my attention, though, are the growing numbers of people who are dying from a different kind of famine, or poverty. Recently, I came across some scriptures in Amos that seem to aptly describe our world - 

"I, the LORD, also promise you a terrible shortage, but not of food and water. You will hunger and thirst to hear my message. You will search everywhere--from north to south, from east to west. You will go all over the earth, seeking a message from me, the LORD. But you won't find one. Your beautiful young women and your young men will faint from thirst" (Amos 8:11-13).

The prophet Amos spoke to the children of Israel, but the word from the Lord speaks to what we witness today - people are experiencing a famine of hearing the words of the Lord; they are starving for truth and are looking everywhere for it but not finding it. 

We have no shortage of supply - the Bible is easily available in print and online. We have churches dotting street corners and springing up in vacant storefronts and in schools on the weekends. Preachers and teachers are available 24/7 on television, radio, and the Web. Yet, still people are starved for the truth, looking everywhere for it.

While we have the Word available to us, we may not be taking the time and making the investment required to actually "hear" what God has to say. This famine may be of our own making. We may have chosen to get our "nutrients" in the same way some of us choose to get the nutrition necessary to physically function - we chug "fortified" energy drinks, substitute "complete meal bars" for actual food, swallow supplements to take the place of the vitamins and minerals we would get from healthy eating. When we opt for the "artificial sweeteners and man-made nutrients," we are choosing to lose our taste for the "real deal." We forget what real food tastes like and jeopardize our health by relying on inferior sustenance. Our bodies try to tell us they need "real food," and if we ignore the signals long enough, we do damage that grows over time and eventually forces us to pay attention in the form of disease.

When we substitute feasting on the "bread of life" (John 6:51) and drinking the water "...that springs up into everlasting life," (John 4:14) for "truth" that is more convenient, we are like those who Paul said "...exchanged the truth of God for a lie..." (Romans 1:25). We lose sight of what the real truth is and settle for a weaker substitute. Our spirit lacks the satisfaction that comes from feasting at the table prepared for us. We know we're missing something. If we persist in ignoring our need for Word of Life (John 6:63), we perish.

It's easy for me to not see the hunger and poverty around me; I can ignore the needs of others by simply looking the other way. I can read statistics and hear media pleas to "do the deed" by involving myself in community service and not be moved to action. Shamefully, it's even easier for me to not pay attention to those around me who are starving because they need to hear the words that will give them life eternal. 

In Matthew 25:35-46, Jesus talks about those of us who minister to those in need and those of us who don't. We generally think of these passages of scripture in regard to physical and material needs, and we should, but I believe those of us who know God's word and fail to give it to a world dying for lack of it are the same as those of us who see the physically and materially needy and do nothing.

If I am to justifiably call myself a Christian, I will do what Jesus did - he knew the words of his father, he lived that truth, and he gave the word to all in need. My responsibility is to get my spiritual sustenance from God's word and then make sure that all who are hungry are given the access to the "living bread."

Lord, I am hungry for your truth, not the truth as the world spins it. I don't want a convenient and comfortable interpretation of you because I want to be sustained by the life you give. Please make me sensitive to those around me who need to know your word, who need you, not just an "artificial you." I pray that you will use me to live your truth and share your word to those in need. Amen.

Convenience Store Christianity

Today, we can hardly travel a mile without seeing Quik Trips, Kwik Shops, One Stops and other aptly named markets holding down the four corners of most intersections. They provide us an in and out, convenient shopping experience where we can purchase whatever we need in one stop! The products aren't always the healthiest for us or the most cost-effective. They are, though, quick and convenient and provide the instant gratification we need. Marketers vie for prime corner real estate so that we don't have to worry about getting off the main thoroughfare and back onto it. We have come to expect 24/7 access to what we want when we want it. Convenience has become part of our cultural DNA.

This expectation of convenience seems to have made its way into how some of us view our Christian service. Churches seem to have bought into the idea that to draw "customers," they must provide easy access and "grab and go" products. Christians now shop for churches based upon when services are scheduled and the variety and style of "programs" offered. Service to the church body is made easy - give an hour a week, no preparation required, with very little if any commitment to interfere with the rest of the week. We want to be able to rush in and out, grab what we want off the shelf, and exit quickly, back into the rush of our everyday lives. Christianity of this sort results in the same outcome of shopping at convenience stores regularly - the cost is too high and our need not met for very long. 

I am guilty of wanting to go to church early so I can get out early and have the rest of my day to myself. I wanted a church where I could show up on Sunday, do my time, and never serve in any way that would inconvenience me beyond the amount of time I was willing to give up on a Sunday morning, once a month. My parameters were all about me and not at all about what the call to be like Christ is. I was wrong!

We aren't called to convenient service. Jesus says that if we are to follow him we will deny ourselves and take up our crosses daily (Luke 9:23). He says that we will lose our lives for his sake, but we will also be saved (Luke 9:24). We are called to be like Jesus, and that means investing the time to learn who He is and being willing to serve as he did. It means we may be inconvenienced!

The stakes are high. We have to decide whether we are going to shape our Christianity to serve our convenience (Romans 8:6; Colossians 2:8) or if we are going to inconvenience our flesh and be transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 2: 6-7). If our heart's desire is to be like Jesus, we won't be able to "grab and go"; we will choose to sit at His feet and follow where He leads.


Heavenly Father, I'm selfish. I want what I want when I want it! I like having things go my way and on my schedule. Forgive me for seeking convenience over seeking and doing Your will. Help me to have the heart to serve and the strength to obey you. In your name, Amen.