Dinner Plate Theology

Recently I had the opportunity to share in a church sponsored meal and service for a local Men's Shelter.  The experience is good for all who attends and helps.  My observation as I was eating with the men is that most of them are transient (moving around a lot), some being from as close as Ohio, some from as far as Texas.  They didn't talk a lot as they were filling and refilling their plates with the food prepared, so I didn't initially get to talk to them.  Watching them eat however spoke volumes.  Not that any were sloppy or ill mannered, but by their appetites and appreciative "thank you's."  We had hoped all would stay for the chapel service to follow, but most went on their way after the serving hour.  Yet their needs were met.

It reminds me of the occasion when Jesus was sitting on the shore waiting for His disciples to return from a fishing trip.  The disciples were like many of these men-- tired, worn down by life, discouraged, and hungry.  When they arrived on shore, Jesus had a fire going and had some fish cooked and ready to eat.  He let them eat first and then talked to them.  In life, we as preachers and teachers of God's Word tend to "corral" people to hear the Gospel without addressing the physical needs first.  Of course the Gospel is the most important thing anyone will ever encounter, but kindness and the literal meeting of a literal need done in the right spirit boosts far greater reception to the message of Christ. This is more effective than a somewhat forced lecture about issues that aren't shouting to them as loudly as the emptiness of their stomachs.  

I mentioned that not all who were served stayed around to hear the Gospel after they were fed.  Was it all a waste of time? No. One thing we learn in being like the Master that the act of kindness will stick longer in the mind than  the words of the preacher.  That act will remind them of Christ and His love and will hopefully spur them on to know the One who feeds us and the same one who saves us.  Both needs important, both answered as Christ sees fit.