Food Waste

Yesterday's report of the scale of food waste is astonishing. 

To know that  half the food grown and produced throughout the world gets wasted is a terrible fact. 

And all of us are part of the problem, either buying too much, or throwing it away, because it is 'past the sell by date' or for real reasons. No doubt much has been written about this already. And no doubt, all involved, from producers, supermarkets, and consumers are being exhorted to do better, and waste less. Certainly, I have seen advertising on the buses telling us not to waste so much food in Surrey .

But how about our spiritual food wastage?

When Jesus was in the wilderness, fasting, he was tempted by the Devil to turn stones into bread, and so satisfy his own hunger. His response to the Devil, taken straight from Deuteronomy, is startling in its profundity. But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” (Matthew 4.4)

If it is true that true living only comes when we feed on 'every word that comes from the mouth of God', how is our diet? 

How much spiritual food are we eating? 

Are we feeding daily from God's word, or do we make do with occasional church attendance? 

Without food, there can be no life or growth or energy. 

Unlike some places in the world, we have easy access to printed Bibles and study guides, we are free to meet with other Christ-followers, and with digital media, we don't need to carry a book around with us. 

It couldn't be easier - except we have to give our time. 

That is the true challenge. We may be scripture rich, but time poor. But we all have choices to make.

My choice, for this day, is to make sure I take quality time to read, reflect and respond to God's word to me. What is yours?
Best wishes,

Richard