Sermon: Will Work for Food – May 16, 2010

Listen to Sermon:  WILLWORKFORFOOD

“Will Work for Food”

A 2009 Cincinnati Enquirer headline read, “Smell of baked bread may be health hazard.” The article went on to describe the dangers of the smell of baking bread. The main danger, apparently, is that the organic components of this aroma may break down ozone (I’m not making this stuff up). The reporter went on to say;

“When are we going to do something about bread- induced global warming? When are we going to get serious and go after the Big Bread Companies?”

The reporter did a little research, and the following are just a few statistics which came to light for him.

1. More than 98 percent of convicted felons are bread eaters.
2. Fully HALF of all children who grow up in bread-consuming households score below average on standardized tests.
3. More than 90 percent of violent crimes are committed within 24 hours of eating bread.
4. Bread has been proven to be addictive. 
5. Bread is often a “gateway” food item, leading the user to “harder” items such as butter, jelly, peanut butter and even cold cuts. 
6. Most American bread eaters are utterly unable to distinguish between significant scientific fact and meaningless statistical babbling.

Bread is a staple that would be hard for me to give up.  I know that I should eat a lot less of it, but there is something about especially fresh baked bread that draws us into that comfort zone instead of the ozone.  Don’t you agree?  My father in law Tom McCaskell loved to bake bread.  In our early years of marriage Scott and I would often stop by his parent’s home and quite often, my father in law would be baking bread.  He loved to try out new recipes or make up his own.  My father in law and I had an ongoing game between us as to what secret ingredient he had put in his bread that day. 

There is something almost personal about bread that defines who we are. As I look back on my childhood even though the bakery was a small town fixture I feel almost cheated to have only been fed white bread most of the time. 

Our scripture today picks up after Jesus had just taken 5 simple loaves of barley bread and two fish the day before and had fed over 5000 people.  The crowd finds Jesus near Capernaum which is near the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. Asking Jesus when had he arrived there?  Jesus responds with an admonition like that of a scolding parent.  “I tell you, you are not looking for me because of the miraculous signs you have seen. But because you have eaten your fill of the loaves.  Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.” 

Some in the crowd that had gathered may have come for the right reason, but evidently Jesus decides that these people need to be taught and for some reminded, that there is a distinct difference between the food we work for and the enduring food that we are invited to live for.

Ok….we are all for the most part, responsible people.  It would be irresponsible of us to not work or find some sort of support for ourselves or our families.  I mean in order to have all the stuff for living we need to have a means to pay for it, right?  Isn’t it the American way to work hard most of our lives in hopes that we will live to have some time to enjoy life?  But this scripture is challenging us to look beyond temporary means to the eternal mainstay.

We have all seen the folks standing on a busy street corner holding a sign that says “will work for food.”  What is our initial thought or response?    Sometimes I think I can tell if it is sincere or not.  Sometimes I wonder to myself if they are really willing to work or do they just want a handout.  When I am in Kansas City for school my eyes are opened even wider, because it is on about every corner that I witness some sign of despair.  Many times out of personal safety we go ahead and pass by these signs, sorry to have to keep going or not knowing what to do.   

Our scripture confirms for us that Jesus was always concerned about the physical and spiritual needs of people.  He didn’t pass by those in need.  He spent his years of earthly ministry healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, feeding the hungry.  While seeing those in need may or may not tug at our heart strings, quite often it seems we just accept it as an expected part of our landscape.

While Pastor Doug has been challenging us to really define our mission and outreach, he also has reminded us often that it takes a lot of prayer and resources to do that.  We give thanks for the way people are responding, and if anything becoming more aware of the ongoing needs for the hopeless and helpless of our community.   

Today we remember that God wasn’t just concerned about empty stomachs, but was even more so concerned about empty hearts.  We can give our hard earned money to an unlimited number of great causes, yet still be hungry for God’s mercy and grace. 

This may be hard for some of us to swallow, but I have some real food for thought for us.  Are we willing to really “Work for Food?” I’m not talking about that nice piece of steak or chicken that we are going to throw on the grill later.  I am talking about THE food.  Have we come to a point yet in our lives where we realize that nothing of this world will satisfy us like the life giving, ever transforming sustenance found in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

When the crowd asked Jesus what they must do to perform works of God?  Jesus replied: ‘This is the work of God that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Jesus goes on to say; “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” As followers of Jesus Christ when we feast on God’s life giving bread, we never will be hungry or thirsty again.  Jesus doesn’t just give bread to the people; he is the bread for the people.

Jesus reminds the crowd that even after they have seen him, some of them still don’t believe in Him.  He had provided them with food for the stomach in a miraculous way the day before.  Now he was offering them food for the soul that would provide the way to eternal life. 

Each time we join together in the communion meal we remember the sacrificial way that Christ took upon himself the sins of the world, in the breaking of the bread.  Each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer we are confirming our belief that Christ will provide daily bread for us in more ways than one.  Our daily journey of faith is not just simply a onetime all you can eat smorgasbord but by feasting on God’s word and living lives of service and worship, those who feast on Christ will constantly dwell in Him. 

Psalm 34 verse 8, says; “Taste and See that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him. 

Max Lucado tells of a time he was living in Brazil and couldn’t pass by a little boy who was begging in the street.  He said there were many beggars but there was something different about this young boy.  So he invited the little lad into a bakery to buy him a pastry.  While Max was paying he expected to turn around and see the boy gone.  But the boy stood there waiting to say thank you.  After he said thank you he said to Max….”Are you Jesus?”, to which Max replied “ no just one of his followers.” 

To this young boy this man represented Jesus. The food that we work for in life can bring about new life not only to ourselves but to those we share God’s life giving bread with.  Are we simply working for a living or are living lives fueled by the one source of joy, true contentment and peace, who can and will satisfy the hungriest of hearts.

 If by chance because of our actions we are ever asked if we are Jesus, may it be with confidence that we reply, “no, just one of his followers.”   Amen.