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.
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.