Sabbath Devotional :: "For I was an hungered . . ."

Image: “They Were All Filled” by Walter Rane

A couple of years ago when I was living in downtown Portland, I committed myself to a strict monthly grocery budget. On October 31st, I walked to the nearby grocery store to happily spend my remaining few dollars on chocolate chips for some Halloween cookies. As I was leaving the store, I was approached by a woman who asked me if I could give her some money so she could buy some Oreos and soda for her kids for Halloween. Being completely honest (and somewhat single-minded), I blurted out that I had just spent the last of my monthly grocery budget, and she kindly thanked me anyway.

As I walked the few blocks to my apartment, I was reminded of a commitment I had made years earlier after reading the parable of the goats and the sheep in Matthew 25. At that time, I had received a strong impression that Jesus Christ was not kidding when He said our salvation hung on whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked, or visited the sick, and I had committed to never turn away anyone who said they were hungry.

As I walked home, I tried to convince myself that the woman had never claimed her kids were hungry. If she had, of course I’d have marched back into the store and purchased peanut butter and jelly and bread and milk and some fruits and vegetables, too. But certainly they weren’t hungry if she was asking for Oreos and soda, right? And then a realization fell upon me like a ton of bricks. How hypocritical was I for denying her children the very sweets and indulgences I had specifically gone to the store to acquire for myself? What right did I have to judge the “quality” of her professed needs and desires? What made me think I had any understanding whatsoever of her situation? I was every bit the goat, just certain I had not denied the Lord himself in the least of these significant ways. Only the goats had engaged in speculating as to the worthiness and identity of the beggar.

Since that experience, which still makes me blush a bit with embarrassment, I have thought a lot about what the Savior meant when he said, “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat.” I had always assumed it meant they gave what was necessary, or perhaps maybe even the best there was to offer, but now I see it a little bit differently. I imagine that the offering of meat was an offering of excess, an offering of indulgence, an offering of dignity, an offering of equality.

As we attempt to open our eyes to the needs of those around us, I hope we remember that there are many different kinds of things for which people may hunger. And there are endless opportunities to help satiate that hunger generously, graciously, and without self-righteousness or judgment. I think we best pave the way for others to know and recognize Jesus Christ as “the bread of life” by doing whatever we can to eliminate hunger of all kinds in His name.

But don’t let yourself be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the need! We can take comfort in remembering that when there were literally thousands of mouths to feed, even a few loaves and a couple of fishes were more than enough when blessed by the hands of our Savior Jesus Christ.