Devotional: Feed Them Matthew 14:13-21

There is going to be an election in November for the office of President of the United States. At this time we are confronted with the COVID-19 pandemic caused by member of the coronavirus family. The shouting points are many in the debate about who is most qualified to lead this country. Both major candidates, former vice president Joe Bidden and current president Donald J. Trump are highlighting what they have accomplished for the benefit of the American citizens. People want to know which candidate they should support and vote for in the upcoming election.

Now, there are many groups that have pacific concerns including the Black church. The Black church legitimately has serious concerns about social justice because the lack thereof is affecting African Americans disproportionally in terms of poverty, lack of health care, police brutality, and death in various areas of life in the United States. The Black church is calling on the government, namely the president, to make and enforce policies that will at least begin to move our country towards justice for all Americans. However, I question if the Black church is following the best course of action needed to help the least of these; and I mean the least of these in the African American community.

All four gospels give an account of Jesus feeding five thousand men along with women and children. The people have been following Jesus for three days. Jesus knows that the people are hungry and He wants them to have something to eat. “When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy for themselves’” (Matt. 14:15, NASB). The disciples do not see that it is their responsibility to feed the people. They know that they do not have enough money to buy enough food for all the people. So, they want the people to go to the village and get their own food.

Jesus tells the disciples that it is their responsibility to feed the people. “But Jesus said to them, ‘they do not need to go away; you give them something to eat’” (v. 16). The disciples believe that they have enough money to buy enough food to feed the people. Jesus knows that they do not have enough money, so Jesus tells them to give Him what they have (v. 17-18). Jesus orders the people to sit down; He blesses the bread and fish. Everyone gets enough to eat and there is food left over (v.20).

Although it is the responsibility of the government to make sure that the needs of all the people are met, the church is never relieved of its responsibility to make use of its resources to meet the needs of the people that enter into its doors. Jesus is saying to the church today, “you give them something to eat.”

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for feeding us; that you meet all of our needs. We are mindful of our responsibility to meet the needs of others, so we give what we have to You. Amen.