Today marks the kick-off of my church’s month-long emphasis on world hunger. Please take a moment to watch this video we watched today. Pray about how to use your voice and your resources to eliminate world hunger.
World Hunger Fund for Horn of Africa Relief from Africa Stories on Vimeo.
A plastic bread loaf-shaped bank sits on my family’s kitchen counter as a reminder of the millions of people suffering from famine, poverty, and constant hunger.
Here are just a few ideas on how to spur up extra funds for the world hunger fund.
- Every evening, deposit all loose change from your pocket or purse into the bread bank.
- When a hankering for a trip to the drive-thru or Starbucks crosses your mind, make a conscious choice to use that money to eliminate world hunger instead of filling your nourished belly.
- Gather up some household items you’d normally give to Goodwill and have a garage sale to fight world hunger.
- Skip a meal and spend that time in prayer and fasting over the painful reality of world hunger. Use the money you would have spent on lunch for the world hunger fund.
- Choose to drink only tap water for a week or more. Use your soda pop/coffee/beer/fancy tea budget for the world hunger fund.
When I consider the deplorable conditions of so many parts of this world, sometimes, I’m tempted to throw my hands up and say, “Lord, where are You???”
But then I realize that I am part of the body of Christ. Every Believer is. Where is the Lord in times of desperate need? The question should be, where am I? Where are you? God calls us to be His hands, His feet, His heart, and His voice.
Pastor Gary’s sermon kept service on the forefront.
He took us to Genesis Chapter 18 where Abraham meets the pre-incarnate Christ for the fifth time. By that time, Abraham knew who stood before him. And he knew just what to do. Take a peek.
The LORD appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.
He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”
“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”
So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”
Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. (Genesis 18:1-8)
During the heat of the day, 99-year-old Abraham was taking a rest on his front porch. His 89-year-old wife, Sarah was puttering around inside. Abraham’s 318 servants were scattered around the land tending to various duties. A normal day until three men appeared. Abraham knew it was it was the Lord because he had seen him four times before. By watching Abraham’s behavior in the next moments, we learn the attitude the Lord expects of His servants.
1. Humble service
Abraham bowed low to the ground before the three men. He knew their presence made his front yard holy ground.
As Believers, we are never so high as when we’re bowed low before our Lord. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (I Peter 5:6)
Abraham begged the men to let him serve them. He knew what an honor it was to do even the smallest thing for the Lord.
God handpicks us for His service. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:10)
Later in the story, as the Lord and His angelic companions were resting and eating, Abraham stood nearby waiting for any additional service they might need.
Like Abraham, we need to live our lives with eyes wide open for opportunities to serve the Lord. No matter how big or how small the act of service, our humble willingness is pleasing to Christ.
2. Hurried service
From the moment the Lord arrived, Abraham was in high gear. He hurried to meet them. He hurried to tell Sarah to bake bread as quick as she could. He ran to the herd to select a choice calf for a servant to prepare in a hurry.
Humble service to God is a tremendous energizer, and when we serve with great passion, our energy is contagious!
3. Harmonious service
Abraham didn’t hoard the blessing of serving. He involved others. Sarah baked the bread. Servants brought water and prepared the calf and other foods. Together, Abraham, Sarah, and the servants prepared a picnic fit for Christ himself. He also didn’t sit back on his tail and let everyone else do the work. He had 318 servants; he could have ordered them to do everything.
Serving God together is a unifier. Even if we don’t agree about everything, we can agree on how worthy Christ is of our service.
We are the body of Christ! When some of us choose to sit back and let everyone else do it, the Lord’s work will not get done. Whether we use our spiritual gifts or not, we possess them. He expects us to ALL be serving. Centenarian Abraham understood that, and so should we.
4. Honorable service
Abraham served with intensity, excitement, and energy. He gave the Lord the very best of his time, his effort, and his resources.
God deserves our best not our leftovers.
5. Helpful service
Abraham gave the Lord and his companions what they needed at that very moment: clean feet, a shady spot to rest, and a refreshing meal. He took what he had and used it to be a blessing to God’s heart.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (I Peter 4:10-11)
As we journey through our days, the Lord wants us to be watchful for opportunities to meet needs in His name.
The other day, I had one of those opportunities. It was a weary Monday night, and I was dragging myself from aisle to aisle at the grocery store. As I was chucking some 5 for $10 Hot Pockets in my buggy, a woman trudged toward me. It looked like she was about to cry.
“Are you ok?” I asked.
“Not really,” she stammered.
I closed the freezer case door and place a hand on her shoulder. “Can I pray for you?”
Tears started flowing as she said, “Yes, please.”
Right there in the frozen food aisle, I was blessed with an unexpected opportunity to love on someone in Jesus’ name. Was it awkward? A little. But who cares? That dear woman left that grocery store encouraged, and I left strangely energized despite my long day at work.
6. Heroic service
Abraham got to serve the Lord “in the flesh.” We, on the other hand, serve Him by serving others in His name.
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35-40)
When we reach out in loving service to one of God’s children, we are serving Him.
When we notice a colleague with downcast eyes and provide prayer and encouragement, we serve God.
When we pull out our pocketbook to buy a meal for the needy guy holding a sign, we feed God.
When we cook a hot meal for a sick neighbor, we provide nourishment to God.
When we take love into the prisons, the rescue missions, and the halfway houses, we take love to God.
When we reach out to strangers in the grocery store, the restaurant, or the bowling alley, we reach out to God.
When we give sacrificially to the World Hunger Fund, we feed God.
With Jesus in our hearts, everything we do becomes eternal because it is all for Him. For His glory. For His pleasure.
How will you serve Him today?
Lord, keep our eyes wide open for opportunities to serve You by serving others. May the Body of Christ be united in purpose. May we put differences aside and focus on the main thing: You. Spur us on to good deeds for Your glory.
In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN
Look what a sweet little girl gave me after church? I think she was paying attention to the sermon. With her tender kindergarten heart, Natalie served the Lord by showing His heart to me.
