The other day I was talking with a friend who loves to cook as much as I do. We both spoke of how much more fun it is to cook for people who were not picky eaters. When all that effort sits in the bowls and platters on the table with scarcely a dent made in them because this one prefers this and that one prefers that, it is hard not to be offended. The very fact that I know so many more picky eaters these days than I did as a child emphasizes how wealthy this society has become. Truly hungry people are not picky eaters.

Real hunger is not a concept we understand. We eat by the clock instead of by our stomachs, which may be the biggest reason so many of us are overweight. If we only ate when we were truly hungry, would we eat too much on a regular basis? A celebratory feast, which used to happen only once or twice or year, has become a weekly, if not daily, occurrence for many.

And because we do not understand true physical hunger, we cannot understand Jesus’ blessing upon those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. We think being willing to sit through one sermon a week makes us worthy, when that is probably the shallowest application of that beatitude. We don’t want a spiritual feast. We want something light, with fewer calories, requiring little effort to eat. In fact, sometimes we want to be fed too. Spiritual eating has become too much trouble.

How many of us skip Bible classes? How many daydream during the sermons, plan the afternoon ahead, even text message each other? If more than one adult class is offered on Sunday mornings, how many choose the one that requires more study or deeper thinking? When extra classes are offered during the week, what percentage of the church actually chooses to attend? How many of us are actively pursuing our own studies at home, studies beyond that needed for the Sunday morning class? If we won’t even eat the meals especially prepared for us by others, how in the world will be seek righteousness on our own and how will we ever progress past simple Bible study in satisfying our spiritual hunger?

Picky eaters suddenly become omnivores when they really need to eat. For some reason we think we can fast from spiritual food and still survive. Amazing how we can deceive ourselves so easily.

So, what’s on your menu today, or have you even planned one?

Oh how love I your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers; for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have kept your precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might observe your word. I have not turned aside from your ordinances; for You have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste! sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:97-104.

Dene Ward