Do we put more value on physical food rather than appreciating the spiritual food we hold onto?

Just the other day the topic of a "use-by-date" pertaining to food storage in the fridge at work surfaced. Suddenly I became acutely aware that the two younger men in the discussion had no idea of what I was talking about. It was then I disclosed to them that at some stage during my formative years (around the mid 1970s in Australia), food started to have use-by-dates printed on the packaging. My colleagues looked surprised, even incredulous, and remarked that they had no idea. You see, for them, this is all they had ever known...........food had a "best before" or use-by-date prior to being rendered not safe to consume, or the "eat at your own risk" principle applied. As we all know and the fact remains, that food spoils at various rates depending on different additives or preservation techniques, or whether none have been applied at all.

Perhaps we could reflect about what we do with food that has expired? Some may throw it away just in case of unwanted effects such as upset stomach aches/cramps or even food poisoning. Some may keep it for another couple of days or so, whilst others completely ignore labelling and continue on consuming the foodstuff using their own judgement depending on appearance, smell, and taste. After all most people do not want to waste hard-earned money. And so the bottom line is to be prudent in these matters and not waste any food. Prevention of waste through planned and steady consumption thereby avoiding expiration dates and dumping of foodstuff in the rubbish bin, was, and is best practice.

Whatever we do we all need to make a choice guided by common sense and what is best for our health. There is no doubt that planning, wise choices, and following through with diligence in food preparation and consumption, is needed (Proverbs 12:27). Likewise, and even more importantly, we need to make wise choices in spiritual matters.

Physical food decays and spoils but spiritual food is everlasting!

Imagine having food that never spoils. Well we have it! Consider for a moment that God's Word is nourishment. We do not physically put it into our mouths but we ingest it through our other senses. Our eyes devour the written Word, our ears attentively listen for every instruction knowing that we are fed with Truth, our hands hold onto God's most precious instruction manual so that we can internalise all that He says through living a way of life He desires for us. We spread the Word in speech to share with others using our mouths fed by this spiritual nourishment which is known as the bread of life (John 6:35). This is the very Word of God given to us in the form of a book, the Bible. When we are fledgling in the faith God refers to His nourishment as milk (1 Peter 2:2). When we are mature in the faith God refers to His nourishment as meat (Hebrews 5:14).

The Lesson of the Manna

After Moses led God's people out of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites wandered about in the wilderness for 40 years until they finally reached the Promised Land. During the whole of this time, God provided for them with supernatural food called manna (John 6:31; Exodus 16:31).

During their journey the people became very discouraged and spoke against God and Moses saying "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread" (Numbers 21:5). The worthless bread the people were referring to was the manna which God was giving to them!

Instead of being grateful for the ongoing daily provision of fresh food they grumbled and complained and were no longer thankful for God's generosity. God wanted to know what was truly in their hearts. The people were being humbled in order to understand that "man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4).

Likewise, we are to be reminded that we must not forget God when we have times of abundance and plenty in prosperity as we have now. We must not neglect to sincerely pray "give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11) and remember that we owe our total dependence on God for everything we have been given. We must never take our physical and spiritual food for granted in order to avoid ingesting a diet of disobedience and ingratitude.

The sobering warning through Amos the prophet is provided to us so that we can prepare for the times coming ahead........."Behold, the days are coming", says the Lord GOD, "That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the LORD, but shall not find it" (Amos 8:11-12)

Will you heed these words and prepare sufficiently now so that your use-by-date is not wasted? Will you manage in daily grateful thanks for what you have been given physically and spiritually? We best be devouring the bread of life while we can before the famine comes. This is God's warning to His beloved children.