November
A question I get asked about Loaves & Fishes is, “How do you know that the people who show up really need/deserve it?” Pastor Jim had a sermon that addressed this question that is difficult to answer. Who deserves a Loaves & Fishes meal? Who should automatically be disqualified and who decides what that disqualification is? The sermon was about Jesus and his bringing division to the world, son against father, mother against daughter and so on. It doesn’t appear that Jesus is always the Prince of Peace. Why does Jesus bring conflict? Jesus tells us we need to decide between loving God and loving the ways of the world. One of the biggest reasons for our divisions is how we judge others.
If a person has the newest model cell phone, should that person automatically be disqualifiedfrom getting a free meal? The logic goes if a person can afford the newest model of cell phone,then that person can afford to buy their own meal. What is meant is the person is disqualified because we judge that the person is wasting their money and if the person needs a free meal, then they need to make better decisions. Or should people be disqualified because they have a newer model car? We are falling into the trap of love of this world not the love of God.
When people raise the question about who really deserves a meal, I have true stories ready. Here’s one true story: Almost every week I brought meals to “Dave” (not his real name) at Watertown Loaves & Fishes as he pulled up curbside. Dave always seemed negative and cranky,and I know he has a fulltime, good paying job. I didn’t have any problem serving him, but I would get annoyed that he didn’t seem grateful.
One day Dave stopped almost right at the time we stopped serving meals and asked if I could hurry and get him four meals, he explained that his hours at work had changed and he needed to get back to work. I literally ran and got Dave four meals. Dave thanked me. Dave then said, “I have three kids at home and my wife died of cancer and he added the three kids aren’t mine.” When I tell this story people always say well of course he deserved the meals, Dave is raising kids that aren’t even his!
After listening to Pastor Jim’s sermon, I realized how easily by telling the story I have fallen into the who “deserves” the free meal trap. I know this true story makes people want to say, of course he deserves free meals and how awesome he is taking care of children that aren’t biologically his. What if Dave never shared that the meals were for his stepchildren or that his wife died? Or what if the children had been his? Does that really make a difference aboutwhether he deserved/needed the meals? All his story does is make it easier for people (me included) to feel he and his children are deserving of the meal. Many people will not share their story for fear of being shamed and judged by others.
This is not what Jesus wants us doing. If we choose the love of God over the love of this world,we won’t waste our time trying to judge who is worthy of a free meal and who isn’t. What God is asking us to do is to love all his children and feed them when they are hungry.