The seven deacons in charge of food distribution

Every organisation is susceptible to internal conflict if compliant, quarrels and disputes are not managed and dealt with in a timely and well-organized manner. No matter how minute a complaint, a quarrel or a dispute is, if left unhandled, it has the likelihood to become a big albatross around the organisation’s neck. No wonder most organisations have specialized departments that focus on human resources and public relations. It is important that the internal temperature of the organisation is well-controlled so that it affects the public image of the organisation. Dealing with issues that hinder the growth and development of a group is therefore necessary for the overall well-being of the group. The early church had an exponential growth that attracted people of all backgrounds. As the church became more diverse, their needs also became diverse. A complaint arose in the church concerning food distribution. Let’s see how this was handled.

Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them ‭(Acts 6:3)

According to Acts 6:1, “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.” First, the complaints arose as a result of church growth. The diverse congregation demanded diverse attention. The Hellenistic Jews had an issue: their widows were not ignored in the daily food distribution. This complaint was raised specifically against the Hebraic Jews. First we need to understand that the Hellenistic Jews were made up of Jews who spoke Greek and adopted to some extent, the Greek way of life. The Hebraic Jews were traditionally Hebrew speaking Jews. Important to note is that Greek was a dominant language and culture during the time of the New Testament. In this complaint, we see cultural neglect and discrimination. This matter, if not dealt with, could have jeopardized the growth and development of the church. The apostles understood this and they immediately put measures in place to resolve the issue. What was the apostles’ resolution?

First, the apostles understood that if they do not delegate the responsibility of food distribution, it might affect their ministry. They knew that although sharing food is good, they as apostles would be more productive if they were committed to their own call. In Acts 6:2,  the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.” After identifying this, the second step was to create a separate department for food distribution. This department had specific requirements for the workers. In Acts 6:3, the apostles made this suggestion: “Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them.” To qualify as a food distributor, the appointee should be known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. This credential is important as Spirit-filled and wise distributors are likely to know and understand the needs of all the different people groups in the church. One might wonder why food distributors needed to be anointed and wise. In the house of God, nothing is mundane. Even food distribution is a ministry that requires specific attention.

The suggestion of the apostles was accepted in good faith. Their proposal pleased the whole group and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism (Acts 6:5). Those chosen were presented to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6). What was the result? The word of God spread and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. ‭(Acts 6:7).

When we respond to internal conflicts in a timely manner, it results in safe conduct and peace within an organisation. Don’t ignore any complaint, show concern, try as much as possible to resolve issues and don’t allow any internal complaints to become an external disaster. Fix your backyard before it gets too busy to control.

He will provide all things

Many times, we have worried about the basic needs of life. Whenever we experience the lack of food, clothing, shelter among other basic necessities in life, we tend to worry about how to get these things. Homelessness and its attendant issues can sometimes be traced to the lack of basic necessities of life. What do you do when you wake up to find that there is nothing to eat, drink, wear and you stand the chance of being evicted from your house? These things as basic as they are can cause one to lose focus in life. It is important we do our best to provide our basic needs in life, but we shouldn’t miss the fact that sometimes life can present unexpected turns of events.

In His popular sermon on the mountain, Jesus addressed this issue of dealing with the basic necessities of life. He said in Matthew ̈6:25‬ that “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Jesus knew that the basic needs of life can cause worry and He therefore appealed to His listeners not to allow the lack of clothes, food and drink to cause them worry. Jesus’ reason is this:
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:26‭-‬30‬).

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬)

Worrying doesn’t add anything to our lives, it rather takes away our time, energy and even our vigor. Our lack of things should not open us up for pain and shame. According to Jesus, we shouldn’t worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭6:31‭-‬32‬). Life is more precious than these things. There is a better approach according to Jesus and that is to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬). Thus, if our lives are lived on the mantra of “God first” in everything, God shall provide for us the things we need in life. He will always bring helpers our way. He will provide us with the basic necessities of life and we shall not be at the mercy of worry. Sometimes, our real worry is not about the fact that we don’t have these basic needs.

Our real worry is about the desire to have what others have and be at par with them. Our real worry mostly centers on our wants, not our needs. It is not worth it crushing our brains because we want to wear purple dresses but we have blue dresses. These are things unbelievers struggle with in life. We should be content with what the Lord graciously provides for us each day.

He will rain bread from heaven

Hunger is not a third world problem, it is a global problem. Hunger can lead people to do things that are morally bad in order to be filled. In the Old Testament, we saw how Esau carelessly sold his birthright for a bowl of red stew (Genesis 25:33-34) because he was very hungry. At one point, the army of Israel was so hungry that they ate animals with their blood in it (1 Samuel 24:33). At another time, the king of Israel was disgusted and angry to know that two women decided to eat their own children because of hunger and they succeeded in eating one child (2 Kings 6:28-29). In the 21st century, hunger is the course of most of the vices that happen on the street. People go the extra mile to hurt and even kill others in order to satisfy their hunger. If these stories of hunger are unpleasant, imagine leading a whole hungry nation for days. This was what happened when the people of Israel experienced hunger in the wilderness:

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”‭‭ (Exodus‬ ‭16:1‭-‬3‬).

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ‭‭(Exodus‬ ‭16:4‬)

Imagine over a million people screaming at Moses and Aaron to do something about their hunger. These were the same people who had experienced the manifest power of God through the working of miracles. They experienced a great deliverance that took them from Egypt to their current location. Yet, when they were hungry, they totally forgot that the God who easily parted the Red sea can so easily provide them with food to satisfy their hunger. Before you consider the Israelites as ungrateful people, just consider the many instances the Lord God has graciously provided for you, yet at the sight of another situation, you murmured and complained as if God has never done anything in your life. We are all guilty of this. Whether hungry or filled, we should acknowledge that God still provides. How did God deal with this situation? In Exodus‬ 16:4-5‬, the Lord God said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

“Bread from heaven” was God’s solution to a national hunger crisis. The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. (‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:31‬). The Israelites survived on manna for 40 years. God did not cease in those 40 years to rain manna for the people to be satisfied. This amazing miracle of God’s provision sustained an entire nation for 40 years until they tasted the produce from their new home. God did not miss out in providing bread to the people. As the people delighted in the bread so much and saw it as the sustenance, God reminded than in ‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭8:3‬ that even the hunger was His own way to humble the nation and then feeding them with manna, which neither them nor their ancestors had known, to teach them that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Thus, bread is good but is not the only way to survive. Man’s survival also depends on the word of God which is an eternal bread. During Jesus’ temptation, “after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:2‭-‬3‬).

Jesus reminded the tempter that “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬). As we seek God’s provision to satisfy our physical hunger, we should more than anything also desire not to be just bread consumers but word consumers. Understanding that our spiritual hunger can only be satisfied by the word of God Himself should encourage us to develop an intimate relationship with God. In John 1:1-5, John the apostle revealed a profound truth: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus is the Word incarnate, He is the bread of life. No wonder before He was crucified, He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:19‬).

Enjoying the bread of heaven goes beyond the sacrament of the Holy Communion, it is also a deliberate effort to be daily filled with both the logos (written word) and the rhema (revealed word for a specific situation). Don’t be a hungry believer, there is too much to be consumed each day.

The Shunammite woman: Taking advantage of opportunities

Many women have been influential in the ministries of many men and women of God. With their financial support, such women contribute to the advancement of the kingdom of God. In the days of Jesus, there were women who supported the ministry from their earnings (Luke 8:1-3). Similarly, in our days, many churches have thrived on the generosity of women. Obviously, kingdom financiers have not only been women. There are men who have contributed immensely towards the growth and development of different ministries. Since this series focuses on women, we would focus our attention on the women. However, both men and women can be kingdom financiers. Elisha, the prophet, also benefited from the generosity of a woman. This woman went out to provide for the man of God and she received the blessings of  a prophet.

One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. (2 Kings 4:8)

Elisha’s ministry involved a lot of traveling and one of the places he visited often was Shunem. 2 Kings 4:8 quotes that, “One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat.” Thus, Elisha was originally invited for a meal and the woman’s home became his constant stopover place for food. The woman  identified another need. If she could make a sleeping place for the prophet,  she was likely to have the prophet stay over instead of just eating and continuing his journey. The woman saw this as an advantageous opportunity not a worrisome task. She was not forced into making the decision,  she came up with the idea. Her type of generosity extended beyond food. She wanted to give more. She desired to sow more blessings into the man of God. She was rich (well-to-do) so she could have easily taken that step. But, she had a discussion with her husband about it. She submitted to her husband’s authority and leadership. She went to her husband and said to him “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us” (2 Kings 4:9‭-‬10). 

With the support of her husband, they made an upper room for Elisha. She wasn’t bound by any law to provide for the prophet. She saw an opportunity not a chore. She identified a need and availed herself to provide it. As long as the prophet was just stopping over to eat, the woman was never asked if she needed something but as soon as the prophet was given a room in her house, it opened doors for further conversations. One day when Elisha came to the house of the woman, he went up to his room and lay down there. He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’ ” She replied, “I have a home among my own people” (2 Kings 4:11‭-‬13). The woman had a need but she was unable to share it with the prophet. She was childless and her husband was old (2 Kings 4:14). Prophet Elisha said to her, “About this time next year, you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my Lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” However,  true to the word of Elisha, the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son (2 Kings 4:16‭-‬17).

The Shunammite woman went out of her way to be a blessing to a man of God. She provided food and even added accommodation. She housed a prophet and received a prophet’s reward. Her own need was met when she provided for the needs of a man of God. When we go out of our way, with genuineness to serve others, we shall also be satisfied.  

A healthy Lifestyle: Your Living Sacrifice

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: YOUR LIVING SACRIFICE is a faith-based book on healthy living. It provides you a Biblical approach to understanding health and well-being. Mary engages you in a scriptural perspective of a healthy lifestyle. By drawing inspiration from the Bible, she takes the reader on an unforgettable trip through a healthy journey. The book covers important topics that scientists have discovered to be connected to longevity and living a healthy life.

This book is part of Mary’s series on Christianity and Lifestyle. Get your copy here. You can also buy directly from Amazon using your country’s Amazon website.

In this faith-based book on healthy lifestyles, Mary discusses topics such as eating healthy, avoiding junk food and overindulging, exercising on a regular basis, caring for your mental and emotional well-being, relaxation, and making investments in your health and well-being, among others. All discussions are supported by scriptures.

As we seek to grow in our walk with God, we should also desire to have good health. Mary’s approach to understanding health from biblical stance is to motivate you to make the decision to take control of the factors that influence your health and well-being. Mary encourages the reader that the love of God is irrespective of size and shape, who you are, how you look, where you come from and what you have done in your past. But, to live and glorify God even in the flesh, is an intentional journey focusing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As you read this book, be prepared to change your lifestyle to incorporate healthy patterns. The book highlights a few actions you can take to live a healthier life.

This book does not create a meal plan or exercise routine for you. The book uses scripture to explain how God wants us to care for our health and well-being. There are either questions or suggested action steps at the end of each topic to help the reader develop practical steps to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

About the Author

Mary E. Agronah (PhD) is a wife, a mother, a Christian content writer, a counselor, an academic, a prolific writer and a devout follower of the Lord. She is a disciplemaker who wants everyone to have a good relationship with God. She is passionate about God-centered lifestyles that promote physical and mental well-being. She creates intriguing masterpieces by combining linguistic mastery, creativity, and faith.

Ruth picked leftover grain but found favour

Have you ever received love, care and attention from a stranger? If you ever meet someone whose random act of kindness changes your life for good, you would definitely be overjoyed. Whenever we receive a blessing we least expected, we show our gratitude. However, there are others who duly deserve to be recognized for their actions. But, they remain unnoticed. Imagine if someone organizes a surprise party for such people, their joy would be endless. From the previous posts, Ruth, the Moabite woman, followed her mother-in-law to Bethlehem. As a foreigner residing in Bethlehem, Ruth was susceptible to all sorts of racial discrimination. Her people were in the bad books of the Israelites and although she has shown kindness to Naomi, she might have lived in caution for fear of being rejected by the Israelites. 

And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:2)

Ruth knew that to survive in Bethlehem,  she needed to work. Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at the beginning of the barley harvest. Though Naomi didn’t own a barley field, Ruth knew that she could go into the fields and gather the leftovers. Leviticus 23:22 and Deuteronomy 24:19 commands the Israelites to leave the harvest that falls on the ground for the poor and the foreigner. Therefore, “Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:2). By requesting to go out to look for food, Ruth demonstrates his willingness to serve and to provide for herself and Naomi. She could have chosen to do anything but as a virtuous woman, she chose to pick leftover grain. She identified that she and Naomi were poor and she, being a foreigner,  might not easily find something else to do. 

Ruth humbled herself in order to survive and to provide for Naomi. Picking leftover grains was not a desirable task. You need to accept your need for food to make you stoop low to the level of the poor and the foreigner. Ruth was not concerned with the stigmatization, she knew that their survival depended on that leftover. God being so good, Ruth found herself in the field of Boaz, a relative of Elimelek.  She was well received by Boaz who told her, “My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.” (Ruth 2:8‭-‬9). Boaz’ act of kindness didn’t go unnoticed. Ruth bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, “Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me—a foreigner?” (Ruth 2:10 NIV). Boaz made Ruth aware that she duly deserved to be recognized for what she had done. 

“Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” (Ruth 2:11‭-‬12).

Ruth’s selflessness was noticed by Boaz. She was given priority treatment on the fields and gathered about 13 kilograms of barley that day. Even Naomi was amazed when she saw how much Ruth gathered. When Naomi heard that Ruth worked in the field of Boaz, she said, “The Lord bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.” (Ruth 2:20). Ruth didn’t just go to any field but the field of a close relative, one who could redeem Naomi and her. Boaz was not an ordinary person. He was a man of standing. He commanded power and wealth.

As we continue the discourse on Ruth, know that God’s plans are bigger than ours. We learn from today’s story how an act of service led Ruth to the right field and the right person. God desires us to be serviceable. The way to the top is from the bottom. Even airplanes are powered from the ground. Acceleration is dependent on the power exerted from the ground. Going down prepares one for the exponential take off. You go down to serve, not to be served. Christians should be willing to serve as much as we can. Whether you serve your family, your employer or the church, know that everything should be done with God in mind. You might be at your lowest point today, but remaining there is an option. You can choose to stay back and do nothing or move to the fields and gather grains. Your destiny helpers might be out on the fields as well. As we step out to attend to our daily activities, may we meet that person whom God will use to change our stories. 

Do not worry, look at the birds

“Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” (Matthew 6:27)
If worrying can prolong lifespans, humans would live for a very long time. Unfortunately, worrying excessively about everything can cause an early death. Worrying comes from fear of lack, fear of not being able to fulfill all your dreams, fear of missing out etc. In fact, fear is the mastermind of worry. If we replace fear with faith, we shall worry less. We live in unusual times and the average person is constantly exposed to news that causes one to be worried about something. After the world went on a relapse for almost 2 years because of the global pandemic, most of us expected life to be normal but it is not. Maybe the new normal is to navigate through life with all the things happening around us. As believers, these things should not be ‘new news’ because Jesus warned us to expect them (Matthew 24:3-31).

Life can be full of uncertainties but with God on our side, we can navigate through. Jesus’ sermon on the Mountain presents diverse issues of life. Jesus told the people that they should not worry. The message on “Do not worry is presented in Matthew 6: 25-31:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’”

Jesus used two creatures to teach why we shouldn’t worry; birds and flowers. According to Jesus, birds do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet God feeds them. Flowers do not labour or spin and yet they are more beautifully clothed than the rich king Solomon. If our heavenly Father cares for birds and plants, will He not care for us? It is good to make plans for food, water and raiment but if all hope is lost, we should know that our Father in heaven will provide. God provides through people, organizations, charities, churches etc. Instead of worrying, Jesus admonishes us to do the following:
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33‭-‬34).

All ‘these things’ refer to those things/desires/needs etc. that cause us to worry in life. Instead of worrying about everything, let’s seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness and trust God to bring the provision. I pray that God opens uncommon doors for us and turns our worries into celebrations. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. 

Thanksgiving: He is good and His love endures forever

Another Thanksgiving Day is here again in Canada and for most people, it is about eating and having family and friends coming over. I imagine the homeless and those living on their own, it might be a lonely time for them. For most people, to have the best Thanksgiving Day means to get the best turkey and all the accessories that come with it. For some people, Thanksgiving is about belly satisfaction; for others, it is about pleasing family and friends and for few others,  it reminds them that they are alone. What is your plan for Thanksgiving? Did you have an advance Thanksgiving celebration? Is your turkey in the oven already? What are you Thankful for on this day?

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. (Psalms 107:1)

Holidays and celebrations are good periods for us to reminisce about the love of God and show it to the world. We should be intentional about our Thanksgiving to God. The fact that you have strength to eat your turkey should remind you to be grateful. Don’t compare your kitchen with others. You might not have all it takes to host a bigger Thanksgiving lunch, but you have enough to provide for yourself and your family. Others have nothing to eat. Others will spend the whole day crying for not having anyone to celebrate with. Still, others will be on the street begging to survive. If we have a roof over our heads, food on our table and peace of mind, we should be thankful to God for His provision. Today, let’s join the Psalmist and celebrate the goodness of God with Psalms 47.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron. Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy. Some went out on the sea in ships; they were merchants on the mighty waters. They saw the works of the Lord, his wonderful deeds in the deep. For he spoke and stirred up a tempest that lifted high the waves. They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths; in their peril their courage melted away. They reeled and staggered like drunkards; they were at their wits’ end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind. Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders. He turned rivers into a desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs; there he brought the hungry to live, and they founded a city where they could settle. They sowed fields and planted vineyards that yielded a fruitful harvest; he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased, and he did not let their herds diminish. Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled by oppression, calamity and sorrow; he who pours contempt on nobles made them wander in a trackless waste. But he lifted the needy out of their affliction and increased their families like flocks. The upright see and rejoice, but all the wicked shut their mouths. Let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.” (Psalms 107:1‭-‬43 NIV)

Happy Thanksgiving Day, be happy, be grateful and be content!

Let your eating and drinking glorify God!

There is a cultural association to what we consume. In fact, this seems to assert the fact that one man’s meat is another’s poison. There are foods that I cannot stand and cannot even watch people eat just because it is culturally inappropriate to me. My lack of interest in those foods does not make those foods bad. Most importantly, whatever we eat should be healthy for the body. Paul also admonishes us to ensure that our choice of foods does not raise a stumbling block for others (1 Corinthians 10:31). Healthy meals are good for the body and help the consumer to receive the appropriate nutrients in their right proportion. God is interested in you and expects us to be interested in our health and well-being. 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31).

A healthy body makes a healthy Christian but an unhealthy body brings decay and groanings. In view of this, God had admonished us that “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). Our food consumption should be God-glorifying. Gluttony, desire for junk foods, and other eating patterns that ultimately causes one to be at the mercy of health professionals or develop excessive health complications is not God-glorifying. Paul advised the believers in Corinth to “eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience. But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who told you and for the sake of conscience.” (1 Corinthians 10:25‭-‬28).

In other words, the believer has been given the freedom of choice, but we should ensure that our choices are glorifying God but not raising stumbling blocks to others and ultimately causing us health-related problems. When we understand this, it helps us to make God-informed decisions. Knowing that “I have the right to do anything but not everything is beneficial” and “I have the right to do anything but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23) helps to moderate what we consume. Further, knowing that “no one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (1 Corinthians 10:24) put a desire to consume that which will cause others to thrive. Remember that when our way of eating causes us to be unwell, it affects the people around us. Let God be glorified in the way you eat. Take care of the body, it is the temple of God!