Lent
February 22, 2016

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:1-9

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
   and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
   and delight yourselves in rich food.
Incline your ear, and come to me;
   listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
   my steadfast, sure love for David. –Isaiah 55:2-3

Good question: Why do we spend our money on things that do not satisfy? I do it all the time but not usually on things that other people disapprove, like smoking. I often hear criticism of poor people for wasting money on cigarettes. Some legislators routinely introduce bills to check welfare clients for drug use as an eligibility criterion even though studies show only a small fraction of persons on public assistance have ever tested positive for drug use. Besides the drug tests are very expensive. I recently replaced a broken indoor grill with one that was too small and was hard to clean. I got it very cheaply but did not think twice about buying the right size grill with removable fixtures that can readily be cleaned. I will donate the little grill to a good cause. Truth be told I probably did not need an indoor grill at all.

Grills and cigarettes are not the issue. The issue is searching for nurture and joy in things that cannot provide either. Eating is a necessity of life, and I enjoy good food as well as anyone, but in most instances the nurture from the food we eat comes as much from the love of people with whom we share it as it does from the vitamins and minerals in the food. I am sure the same could be said for sharing a drink or a cigarette.

Life satisfaction lies in our relationship with God and with sharing our love of God with one another. The rest is just the props that set the stage for our interaction. Keeping our priorities in order will help us lessen our dependence on that which does not satisfy.

Prayer:
Fill my cup, Lord;
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole*. Amen.

*Chorus from Hymn Fill My Cup words by Richard Blanchard see at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/ns/340

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.