Jesus Came to Our Food Pantry

Working for a church I see a lot of people come to us in need of benevolence help.

They come for the food pantry, but I always want to give them so much more. I want to send them home with the "Bread of Life". I want to feed them spiritually.

But there's a problem. They're not always receptive.

We had a woman come in several months ago that was involved with a domestic violence case. She was battered, bruised , tired, scared and was looking for somewhere to turn. She wept on my shoulder and told me all about her situation.

I showed her compassion and offered her the compassion of Jesus by inviting her to our next church service. She sounded willing and said she knew she needed to go back to church and get her life straightened out. She was adamant that she would be at our next Sunday service.

She didn't show. I watched eagerly for her to no avail.

So many people come through or church doors for physical help when we can offer them the ultimate salvation of Jesus Christ, but they do not seem interested. They politely nod and smile and say thank you, and God bless you, but turn a blind eye to the true Giver.

They check the box that says, "yes I would like to have a Bible study and learn more about Jesus," but don't ever show up for their divine appointment. We offer them the help of the great physician, the wonderful counselor and they say, "no, thank you".

This had made me grow weary. It made me ask God why do we even offer help to the poor if they're aren't even interested in knowing Him. “What is the point in all of this if we're not even converting souls to know your Son?” He gently whisper's through his word, ”Truly I tell you, whatever you do for one of the least of these, you do for me."

Jesus says, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Truly I tell you, whatever you do for one of the least of these, you do for me." Matthew 25:35-36

He says, whatever we do for the least of these, the needy people who come in and want the physical nourishment only and not the spiritual, well, we are doing that for Him.

Jesus is showing up at our food pantry.

When you give the man on the corner some money, you did that for Jesus.

When you served a bowl of soup for a homeless person, you did that for Jesus.

When you donated those clothes to a crisis center, you did that for Jesus.

When you gave your neighbor some money to help them pay their bills, you did that for Jesus.

Jesus is in the faces of all the poor and needy people who are considered the lesser of humanity.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying give them what they want and send them on their way without telling them the gospel. Go ahead, spread the word, adhere to the great commission, but if they don't receive it, then don't grow weary, it’s not your fault. You are doing your part. You are planting the seed and bringing glory to God and making the hands and heart of Jesus very happy.

In a passing conversation with the youth minister at a our church on a similar topic about helping the poor, he mentioned that it's not our job to judge what those do with our help. It's our job to serve. Just do your part and God will take care of the rest.

In doing so, in serving others we are serving our Lord and bringing glory to His name. I can know that with each bag of groceries I hand out, I am doing this for God's glory.

So go ahead, serve the least of these, those who show up for you help in what ever way that may be. Just remember, in turn you are serving the Lord and in the end he will say, "Well done my good and faithful servant.

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!”