ADONAI [the LORD] will not let a righteous soul go hungry, but thwarts the cravings of the wicked. Proverbs 10:3, TLV

Hungry?     For many years, this verse confused me. We don’t have to search too long to find stories of followers of Jesus who are indeed hungry. Who are persecuted and martyred. Given these brothers and sisters are no less righteous than us in the U.S. — because of that atoning sacrifice — then why are they hungry?

It wasn’t until I fully comprehended that there’s a difference between the body and the soul that I understood today’s proverb.

This means that even if/when the body is afflicted, our soul will never go hungry. Whatever we need for spiritual nourishment — even in poverty and persecution — He will always supply.

In fact, this is one of the principles and benefits of fasting. Ironically, fasting can sometimes serve us up a great banquet of spiritual food.

Being the Hands and Feet

There’s another part of this proverb. And it really speaks to charity and justice — being the hands and feet of our Father. The poor in the Jewish community did not need to go hungry. In the agrarian regions of Israel, farmers would leave the corners of their crops so that the poor could reap for themselves. Anything the laborers dropped was left for them as well.

“Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the furthest corners of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Rather you are to leave them for the poor and for the outsider. I am ADONAI [the LORD] your God.” Leviticus 23:22, TLV

Sharing the Wealth?

Even with the early believers in Yeshua, there was a sense of sharing the wealth with the then small Jewish community who were followers of Yeshua. Many sold what they owned and ate communally.

“No one among them was needy, for all who were owners of lands or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds and set them at the feet of the emissaries. And the proceeds were distributed according to the need each one had.” Acts 4:34-35, TLV

This was all voluntary, there was no Biblical mandate to do this. However, it demonstrates where our early brothers and sisters were spiritually. A sense of generosity and benevolence.

James/Jacob, the half-brother of Jesus had a lot to say about how a true follower should demonstrate their faith. He also truly speaks well of the poor and how we are to have respect for them. (James, chapter 2)

“If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in shalom [peace], keep warm and well fed,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is that?”  James 2:15-16, TLV

Sigh. I hadn’t expected this blog to take this path, but, well, sometimes that’s what our Heavenly Father does. I do feel convicted to do more than once or twice a year giving to support charities that help the poor. He will probably be showing me what He wants me to do. In the meantime, I’m grateful for this lesson.

Think More About It

How are you the hands and feet of Messiah? Have you ever been the recipient of someone’s generosity?

Until tomorrow, may we stay tuned to our Father’s will and be His hands and feet, my friends.

These days there are a plethora of opportunities to be the hands and feet of our Father when it comes to supporting and praying for Israel. What He shows us may be different than what He shows someone else, and that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Thank you for however and whatever He shows you to do. God bless you.