Meal Of Love
In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water.
Proverbs 15:1-33
Reference: v.17 Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened calf with hatred. (NIV Bible)
Explore: “A holy man was having a conversation with the Lord one day and said, ‘Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.’ The Lord led the holy man to two doors. He opened one of the doors and the holy man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew, which smelled delicious and made the holy man’s mouth water. The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But because the handle was longer than their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths. The holy man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering. The Lord said, ‘You have seen Hell.’ They went to the next room and opened the door. It was exactly the same as the first one. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the holy man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well nourished and plump, laughing and talking. The holy man said, ‘I don’t understand.’ ‘ It is simple,’ said the Lord. ‘It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.'”
Application: Where do we position ourselves? Are we part of a life that helps to build up others, feed them and nourish them, or are we only striving to fill our own bellies? It’s clear to see which one God desires.
Prayer: Lord, you give each of us so much but you leave it up to us to decide whether we will share and support others. May we live according to You will. Amen.
What can you do today that extends your spoon to others?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.
1 comment:
Thank you for your work that you’ve done. I’ve often thought about writing on my blog every day about what I read in the Word, but you are actually doing it. Good on ya! You are an inspiration.