Matthew 4:3-4
The first temptation that Jesus had was to turn stones into bread. What a miracle that would have been, to take the very stones that were on the floor and turn them into something with substance that would sustain life. Note his response, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’ This temptation is not simply that he could end his fast early and enjoy some sourdough but that he might meet the physical and practical needs of the people around him.
When you look around the world and see the needs, the children missing meals and the families without provision, you might think that this seemed like a noble goal. We should meet the needs of the people around us! And indeed we should but Jesus recognised that he came to meet even deeper needs still.
Tearfund put out an advert a few years ago showing how much food waste there is in the UK. Their point was that there is no food crisis. There is enough food produced every year that no one in the world needs to go hungry. The true crisis is a heart crisis. We all focus on our own desires and appetites and ignore those in need around us.
There are competing appetites inside us. Some are loud and some are deep. The loud ones demand to be fed. They are like an itch that demands to be scratched, which will irritate you until you fulfil it. Food, sex, money, power, security, new stuff can all feel like hungers that need to be met. They are real, present and loud! Feed me now. However, there are also deep appetites. The need for love, peace, connection with God. These appetites are deeper and quieter. Yet, they are vital to our health and wellbeing. So, too often we listen to the loud appetite demanding we buy a new coat and overlook the deeper need to draw closer to God. We take time to rest and heal a broken foot because the pain is loud but we ignore the brokenness in our souls because the pain is deep.
Jesus says later, ‘what good is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul.’ His point is that we can fulfil our body’s hunger and ignore our soul’s. The truth is that while it is good (even vital) to feed the hungry, Jesus’ mission was to go further up stream and to fix the problem at the source. The heart of our problem is the problem of our hearts. Only Jesus could do this. Our need for connection with God is every bit as vital spiritually as eating is for us physically. More! It transforms us from the inside out. It secures our eternal future. Receive bread and I will live a day, recieve Christ and I will live an eternity. As I walk with the Holy Spirit, he brings us to life and heals our souls. As we draw closer, daily, we grow stronger and more healthy. As we follow his Word, we grow more loving and secure. Do not allow the loudest appetites to distract us from the deepest ones.
God does call us to meet people’s most vital with compassion and love but not at the expense of the deepest ones that have the power to bring the greatest change.
