How can we "share your bread with the hungry" in today's society? Scriptural foundation: Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry…” (Isaiah 58:7a) “and to bring the poor and homeless into your house;” (Isaiah 58:7b) “when you see the naked, to cover him,” (Isaiah 58:7c) “and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:7d) Why meeting physical needs matters to God • Matthew 25:35: “For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat;” • Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD;” • James 2:15-16 reminds that faith without helping the needy is empty. These passages show that caring for the hungry is inseparable from genuine faith and worship. Personal ways to “share your bread” today • Keep extra non-perishables on hand to give when needs arise. • Cook double portions and deliver a meal to a neighbor, new parent, or shut-in. • Invite someone who eats alone—student, widow, single coworker—over for dinner. • Carry grocery gift cards in your wallet for on-the-spot generosity. • Pack simple “blessing bags” (snacks, water, socks) to keep in the car for people on street corners. • Grow a garden and designate the firstfruits for a local food pantry (cf. Leviticus 19:9-10). Community and church involvement • Volunteer at or financially support your church’s food pantry or soup kitchen. • Partner with reputable ministries that combine meals with the gospel. • Organize a neighborhood food drive; deliver donations together as a witness. • Advocate for life-affirming policies that protect the vulnerable without compromising biblical convictions. Guarding the heart while giving • Give quietly, resisting any desire for applause (Matthew 6:3-4). • Remember that the hungry bear God’s image; treat each person with dignity. • Pray for discernment so generosity remains wise and Spirit-led (Proverbs 3:5-6). Promises that fuel perseverance • Isaiah 58:10: “Then your light will rise in the darkness…” • 2 Corinthians 9:8: “God is able to make all grace abound to you…” God supplies both the resources and the joy to keep sharing our bread until He comes. |
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