Using What God Provides

Born Into Poverty

Peter Mumo grew up in a family of 8. His father worked in one of the lowest professions in Kenya—a school teacher. He also spent half his salary at the local den drinking. Peter’s family did not have enough food or water to meet the daily needs of the children. They also did not have electricity, or clothing.

When they did eat, the meal consisted of a boiled mixture of maize and beans. But beans were scare and expensive so they often were given to his youngest brothers. His family suffered from malnutrition. They were all emaciated.

His house was built from the natural elements of the land. The walls were made of mud. The roof was thatched and leaked. Rains brought the malaria carrying mosquitoes. Peter was the most susceptible to infection. A large portion of the family income was spent on hospital bills. Despondent and lying in a hospital bed one night, Peter recalled once praying that God would take his life and spare his family of the burden of his medical bills.

Peter Mumo is one person among many who suffered each and every day from hunger. Over 11% of the world’s population suffers from hunger. That is roughly 800 million who have less than 2100 calories a day.

World Hunger

Calorie Counter =

Cup of Rice - 720 calories

Sweet Potato - 195 calories

Egg - 90 calories

Chicken thigh - 238 calories; Pork - 230 calories; Beef - 300 calories

Pork - 230 calories

Beef - 300 calories

Cup of whole milk - 150 calories

Ghana Bread - (2 slices) 212 calories

Total = 2135 Calories

Kenkey - corn flour, banana leaves or corn husks - 1550 calories

AFRICA'S HEALTHY CHOICES, “Nutrition Center,” [online 7/29/2018] http://www.africashealthychoices.com/african-food/

Served with fish, poultry, or meat dish from Western Africa. In Ghana, guests are often served Fante Kenkey with red pepper sauce and canned sardines

“Kenkey,” [online 7/29/2018]

The staple of the West African diet is Keney. This is served with fish, poultry, or meat dish. In Ghana, guests are often served Fante Kenkey with red pepper sauce and canned sardines

“Kenkey,” [online 7/29/2018] https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Kenkey.html

This is the minimum of a health diet. Any adult who is eating below 2100 calories a day is suffering from malnutrition. Those of you who are watching your weight may be squirming in your pews at this point knowing that you eat substantially more.

Consider the difficulty Africans have in eating 2100 calories. They have suffered years of drought, unemployment and poverty, and a lack of resources. Since 1990 the number of people living in extreme poverty has been reduced by over half. But that still leaves 767 million people living one the edge of survival. They are making less than $1.67 and over half of these people are under 18 years old.

When I look at these figures I am overwhelmed. The problem seems insurmountable. I want to help but I do not know where to begin. I do not know how much of a difference I could make. I with the Washington politicians would figure out a way to alleviate hunger and poverty. I do not care if we eliminate it through the Republican’s trickle down method or the Democrat’s social programs. To me, feeding people should be a higher priority than building $13 Billion aircraft carriers.

It is easy for me to fall victim to despondency. The unwillingness of believers to use their monetary funds to address these social issues is discouraging. I read about Christian families owning 7 yachts one of which is valued at over $45 million dollars. I cry out with the psalmist:

How long Lord, how long...

When I reach this stage today’s Scripture lesson is one of many that helps me turn my despair into productive work. Let us ponder its message together.

Feeding 5000

The feeding of the 5000 is a very special event. It is the only miracle from the ministry of Jesus that is recorded in all four gospels. In some gospels the story is set in place to provide a theological message and so does not follow chronologically with the larger section of John’s gospel. So what are the theological symbols of this passage?

The first can be found in the name of the sea upon which they have sailed—the Sea of Tiberias. Why would John add this notation. None of the other three accounts mention it. The answer may be found in the Jewish perception of the name. The Sea of Galilee was also named the Sea of Tiberias after the city of the same name. It was built by Herod Antipas about 20 AD to facilitate trade among the Gentiles. But the Jews hated and despised the city because it was built on a graveyard. By sailing over the Sea of Tiberius Jesus demonstrated that the power of Rome did not hold any attraction for him. He was not concerned about earthly power and glory. He came to serve not to be served. The power of Rome also held no sway over him. He would come and go as he choose to. Rome could not dictate his timing.

[online 26 July 2018] http://homebynow.blogspot.com/2015/07/so-what-did-do-on-that-mountain-feeding.html

sway over him. He would come and go as he choose to. Rome could not dictate his timing.

After mentioning that a great crowd was following Jesus, John then writes that Jesus went up to the mountaintop and sat down. Jesus has traveled from his base of support in Capernaum. o the eastern shore. We do not know why he made this move but once on the other side he performed two actions that were steeped in symbolic rhetoric. The first is walk up the mountainside.

John writes that Jesus went up to the mountaintop and sat down. Jesus has traveled to the eastern shore from his base of support in Capernaum. We do not know why he made this move but once on the other side he performed two actions that were steeped in symbolic rhetoric. The first is walk up the mountainside.

For the Israelite the word “mountain” had a rather loose meaning. Mt Hermon displayed a towering physical presence at 9232 ft that could be seen throughout Israel. But they also attached the label ‘mountain’ to any significant hill or mound.

Egg 90

To strength this message John wrote that all of these events too place just before the Passover. This feast was the most important feast of three in the three in the Jewish calendar. It was a feast that was also associated with the prophet Moses. The people were hungry and complaining. They want food and the last McDonald’s was 500 miles back and on the other side of a very large see.

I wonder how Moses felt standing before all those complainers. I hate listening to one but he had to listen to the leaders of 12 Tribes. That certainly would have been an ear full.

However, John is not concerned about that he wants his readership to know that this is the Messiah, who has come to bring in the Kingdom of God.

John 6:31–33 NIV84

Our forefathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

John wants his leadership to have these symbols dancing in their mind as the crowd approaches. This is Jesus time to have some fun. He asks Phillip, “Where can we go to buy enough bread to feed these people?” Jesus knew what he was going to do but he just wanted to see how the disciples would respond. Phillip’s response is typical of human nature. In the face of an insurmountable challenge we tend to focus on our own inefficiencies. This stands out in Phillip’s answer. Jesus asks him, “Where are we going to buy bread for these people to eat?” Phillip answers the question that Jesus never asks, “How much is this going to cost us?”

Phillip must have been an accountant. Those bean counters really no how to ruin a dream. “O Great idea, but do you know how much it will cost us?” Jesus never let bean counters control his vision and plans.

I admire Andrew. He was a man of action. Before Jesus even asked the question he had gone into the crowd to assess the available resources. He discovered that they had five barely loaves and two small fish. At this point I can hear someone laughing hysterically. To even think that you could feed so many people with such meager resources was absurd. But Jesus remained undaunted. He took what was offered and multiply it a hundred fold.

The 5000 today

The 5000 have grown to 800 million. I cannot imagine what 800 million looks like. How many barley loves and fishes would it take to feed that many people each and every day is staggering. But that is just me looking at my limited resources. I struggle to believe that God can use me to meet the needs of so many people.

The good news God knows what he has to work with. He knows that we tend to be self-absorbed, ego-centric, and reluctant to expend a great deal of energy because few of us have a great deal of energy to expend. But that is all he wants. God does not fault us for not having millions of dollars to give to World Vision or Bread for the World or some other organization. He does not fault us for not possessing the strength to volunteer at Hospitality House and escort people through their store. He does not fault us for having creaky knees that ache when we pick up a pencil much less weed a section of overgrown egg plants. God faults us only when we refuse to consider our meager resources and not offer anything to him.

Growing up Peter Smith had meager resources available to him. He was struggling in school. Finally through the World Food Programme he received a cup of porridge for breakfast and biscuits in the evening. His energy increase as did his immune system. He spent less time in the hospital. Once he could concentrate on his studies instead of his stomach his academic achievements soared. He maintained the top position in the class. He went on to a university and graduated with honors in Chemical and Process Engineering.

God faults us only when we refuse to consider our meager resources and not offer anything to him.l

[online 26 July 2018] https://www.wfp.org/stories/how-i-escaped-poverty-and-hunger

767 World hunger will not be solved by anyone church or by politicians hoping to appease their constituency. It will not be solved by anyone agency. It will require us praying that God extends his had of mercy and power to protect and defend the ongoing efforts from grandstanding politicians and waring factions . It will require each and every person in the pew to contribute in their own way.

For some of us, food is an idol.  For others, an enemy.  For still others, an addiction coated in secrecy and self-loathing.

When his disciples looked at the crowds, they saw only their own insufficiency. Their own scant resources.  The impossibility of the situation.