Sharing our Food with the Hungry

Isaiah 58:6-9

This is the kind of fast day I’m after:  to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is:  sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’

Giving food to the hungry, welcoming the lonely and fighting for justice are things God cares deeply about.  He is not impressed with ‘religious’ activities like fasting and prayer unless we also care about those in need. We are commanded to help any members of our own families in need, we do need to treat those who work for us well, we should care for our neighbour in need but we also need to care about the hungry and poor wherever they are.

The oppressed and exploited need justice and we are called by God to right wrongs and help in very practical ways. Giving to World Mission is just one way we can feed the hungry and clothe the naked. The Gospel is Good News for the poor not just ‘pie in the sky when they die’ but right now because God cares about our material well being. According to the passage when we express God’s compassion and concern for the needy He promises us our lives will turn around, he will give us light, security and the assurance of being ready to answer to our prayers!