I had a really great conversation this evening with my dad and older brother. We were walking back from the travesty that is Indianapolis Colts preseason football, and we began discussing an array of potentially divisive topics – immigration, Ron Paul, the media, bank fraud, inflation, where Jimmy Hoffa is buried. I mean, man, we had it all covered, everything about which you could possibly want to argue.
I love my brother and dad very much, and they are smartpeople. They’ve also spent a fair amount of time more than me being an adult in this crazy thing we call “the world.” Dad has raised four kids into adulthood and Jason has been working full-time for a dozen years, since I was in junior high. They’ve seen lots of things and formed a lot of informed opinions and watched a lot of people with authority screw things up. I’m young and idealistic, so I was eating up everything they had to say.
Now before you think that this is your basic “The whole world’s going to hell in a handbasket and it’s all because of those people I don’t like” post, hold on second. I want to share with you the conclusion to which the three of us came this evening. We’re all from different generations, differing political alignments, differing views on what constitutes success and charity and fairness, and despite that, I feel like we came to these same conclusions.
Firstly, the solution to the problems plaguing the globe right now are not easy to define, and are even more difficult to implement. The truth defies simplicity, and often a solution to one problem exacerbates another problem or creates a whole new one, making the process of “helping” counterproductive.
Secondly, the one thread that seems to run through every single problem (and a lot of the proposed solutions) is that everyone wants something. I want peace of mind. I want my Social Security check. I want health insurance. I want more of my hard-earned income. I want a faster car. I want money to send to my family in another country.
It makes me think of the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand. In Luke 9, a large crowd is gathered to hear the Messiah speak to them. The twelve go to him and say, “Lord, send the people out to go into the surrounding villages, ‘cus they’re hungry and want something to eat!” Now it is curious what Jesus says here: “You give them something to eat!”
Interesting. Not “I will make lunch for everyone!” Not “Where’s that kid with the loaves and fish?” But “You give them something to eat!” The disciples think that they might be able to try and buy food for everyone. But Jesus takes the small bits they have collected them and instructs his disciples to organize the people. Jesus blesses the food, and gives it to his disciples, who then in turn serve it to the multitude.
Jesus empowers his followers to serve those in need, those who are wanting. That food kept coming and coming and coming, going to those hungry people until they were satisfied. And that food is just like Jesus himself – we can keep taking basket after basket to the nations, and he will keep piling up to satisfy them.
There is so much wanting in this world, and I know that only one thing will completely satisfy, only one thing will be enough to sate the appetite of seven billion starving people – the love of Jesus Christ that his followers serve in humble baskets, overflowing with the deliciously filling taste of freedom and abundant life.
