Food and Love

“Oh God, to those who are hungry give bread,

to us who have bread

give hunger for justice.”

We gathered for our morning devotional and opened with this blessing. Today we celebrate World Food Day.

I was asked to lead this morning. So, in preparation, what did I do?

I Googled. 

I Googled: “biblical verses about food and hunger.” I was given 1,270,000 results.

1 Corinthians 8: 1-3; 7-10

Choosing this passage was difficult, grasping the full meaning seems impossible without some scholarly background information. Instead I read Paul’s letter in my own context:

"Dear Sarah, you are a well-educated, white, middle class, American. You have knowledge. Your schooling has provided you with answers, but love can provide more. Do you love the world? Loving the world is to know the world, and Sarah, you love to know things. Don’t you want to know God? Because, not everybody does.

When you do know the world and live in love, do not waste your knowledge. Do not eat the food of idols. Do not let others see you near the food of idols. If they do, they might think it is alright, but it isn’t. Because you are claiming love for the world, the world is partially your responsibility. In order to claim love, you must live love.”

Live love, do not eat the food of idols. Food, food, food. Literal food, spiritual food, societal food.

In many respects food represents love:

potluck dinners, shared holidays, cooking with friends, eating together.

We gather around tables for feasts, special occasions, birthdays, celebrations, and in times of mourning. We cook, eat, talk, share, laugh, drink, and eat more. Our memories may not center on food, but it is a key element.

Food is a basic need. It nourishes us. Provides energy, nutrients, maintains life, and stimulates growth.

Food and love. Just as food nourishes the body, love nourishes the soul. Love is a basic need. A basic need that is often overlooked.

“If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm and eat your fill.’ and yet you do not provide their bodily needs, what is the good of that?”

Provide bodily needs. Food, water, clothing, shelter, knowledge and love. Donating cans, packing food boxes, giving money, serving in shelters, and giving time are wonderful steps, but showing love is another. Feeding and being fed life, love, and knowledge of something greater are more difficult, challenging, necessary steps. This is the justice behind providing bodily needs. 

This is my hunger. If food and love stand hand in hand among those who are closest to us, how can we connect them among those who are unfamiliar?