FOOD AND SHELTER

An answer for the undetermined future in the days of unemployment and failing market conditions and corrupted leadership

General Approach

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

Earning money and living a luxury life is everyone’s dream. The magic and the illusions of the materialism and contemporary life style and architecture of the modern houses are luring the people. People rather thinking about life and the place they are now are dreaming to earn money and enjoy the pleasure and luxury of the world. The thought of after life, the heaven and the kingdom of God is thrown out of the life and are in the illusions of the permanent earthly life. The society has been changing a lot from past century. The values and moral code of conduct are degenerating. The ethics of the religions, philosophies, different departments, and organizations are becoming unimportant. The religious faith and spirituality is being replaced by the immorality and pleasure of the world. The recent incidents on children, women are making us question ourselves that where are we living. Various chemicals poison the essentials, food, vegetables and all the agriculture products. The society is becoming verse day by day. Yet the dreams of luxury life and contemporary houses are poisoning the common sense of the people and in the dreams. But the reality is, to meet the basic needs or essentials of life is becoming drastically difficult. Looking into the world of opportunities disappoints every graduate and postgraduates due to failure of market performance and gradual increase of unemployment due to various economical and political factors. The people who we elect are betraying the people for their development. The leaders of the society are becoming corrupt. Questioning of corruption leading to the murders. The last hope on democracy is being vaporized and raising question on the future life. As the days going by rich are becoming prosperous and poor are leading their lives to poverty. We are facing the difficulties in finding for a leader who can provide employment, better living conditions, less price list for the essentials.

To whom we have to blame society or individuals?

The same was the condition of those days of Roman Era. The legacy of the Empire can still be felt today from water, architecture, transportation and industrialized production, to news reportage and the welfare state. The glory of Rome was founded on blood. The Republic's – and, later, Empire’s - massive economy and rapid territorial expansion were both funded primarily by plunder. At their peak, the Romans controlled territory on three continents, slaughtering any opposition and forcing Roman culture on the native inhabitants.[1]

Roman emperors misused the people’s rights and forced them to labor for the kingdom. They sexually exploited the women, genocide, ethnic cleansing, war rape, and child labor; on the other side people were unemployed and are forced to pay heavy taxes. Especially Jewish people are suffered under the romans a lot. The Herodias dynasty under the rule of Roman emperors enjoyed the prosperity of people and denied the facilities and employment for the Jewish people. Even the religious leader became corrupted and were became the brokers for Herod. People are oppressed and depressed are looking for the change in leadership and are eagerly waiting for a new King who can bring drastic changes in the society. They are also looking for a king who can provide employment and can make Israel an economic stable nation.

The arrival of Jesus brought the lifeless hopes of the people into life. They thought years of cry, lament, struggle, oppression, suffering are going to end. They thought that Jesus came to war against the Romans and will grant Israel to Jews. They looked to Jesus in earthly point of view. And thought Jesus as a mere king than the savior. To this reason Jesus advice people to seek the Kingdom of God and all the essentials can be given in return. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Matt. 6:25. In the verse 25 he emphasizes that more than the physical needs spiritual needs are important but he did not denied the physical needs. He denied the richness and prosperity of the world. His messages are completely against living for the money and richness of the world. But he always gave importance for the physical needs. Hence he fed the 5000 people without leaving them hungry. From john 4:1 we can understand that jesus sent his disciples to bring the food for the afternoon.

There are many people who argue that it is worldly to desire for the earthly things. Without food and water one cannot live in this world. I profess, “Denying food is an attempt of forcible suicide”. That can be either from personal side or community.

The concept of Jesus was earthly providence and heavenly possession. The concept of Jesus enabled many people to come out with open hands to provide food, shelter, charity works and many other to empower the down trodden and help the illiterate to study. Even today many Christian organization and the believers are coming together to provide the food and shelter and other basic need to express the love of God for them. Hence Jesus promised of the Physical needs will be given to everyone who seek the kingdom of God. So my dear fellow followers of Christ do not be anxious or worry in these days of unemployment, disastrous living condition, high prices of essentials.

What Bible speaks about essentials?

The importance for the daily needs and essentials are already can be seen in the word of God. There are particular verses to understand the importance of food and shelter in our lives. Psalmist says in (Psalm 147:9; 104:27; 136:25) that all the creatures of the earth are provided food from the creator of the universe. Each and every beast that has life in it is needed and survived by the food. Hence the food is very important. From the New Testament there are many examples that Jesus gave importance for feeding. Hence he fed the 5000 people who gathered to listen the word of God. The same Jesus also warned the people for their greedy to eat “Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”(John 6:26) KJV. Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians to take care of their body for it is the temple of God. And the same people asked the believer not to be greed for the food. I assume that in olden days people earn money to survive but its quite undeniable that present generation are only surviving to earn money. The present generation are filled with greedy and selfishness to earn money in various ways either legally or illegally. Jesus is completely against the permanent life on the earth and richness of the world.

He wants his followers not to concentrate their belief to get the daily essentials but for the kingdom of God. Even many people are misusing the Christian organizations only to get food. Many organizations are asking the people to take baptism to avail the sponsorship. This is not what the Jesus desired. Jesus asked for the genuine change of heart. The genuine change of the heart leads one to attain the kingdom of God. So the believers and pastors should share the Gospel for the salvation of souls but not the provision of essentials for life. Hence Jesus denied the people mentality of coming to Jesus for food and bread. From this verse a Christian should understand that the worries of the world should leave and completely surrender to the Lord so that his needs shall be taken care by the Lord. Seeking the righteousness and the kingdom of God should be the priority of the Christian rather than thinking for the earthly life and pleasure of the world or richness.

Jesus is promising us the better life and future with the bonus of essentials is provided from any source that we are even aware of.

May the God bless you with this message.

Daniel hutson

[1] https://sabotagetimes.com/life/slavery-sexual-exploitation-why-the-romans-were-an-appalling-civilisation