Hungry? Pick up your own utensil!

"My pastor isn't feeding me."

I have heard that statement over and over.  I always want to ask, "Why do you say that?  What is wrong with your hand and arm that you can't feed yourself?"  I think it is another round in the "Blame Game".  I heard someone say this again recently, and it got me to thinking.

When our first baby was born, I was solely responsible for her feeding.  She cried when she was hungry and God gave me the ability to meet her needs.  As new Christians, we should have a desire to learn and need someone to guide and teach us.  I Peter 2:2

As Ashlynn grew, she was interested in and wanted to try what we were eating.  It was fun to watch her grab at the Cheerios, french fries, and bananas trying to get them off her highchair tray into her mouth.  She reached.  She concentrated.  She enjoyed what she tasted.  As her teeth came in, she had more ability to try new things.  Her little digestive system could handle more than just milk.  She wanted more.  She had the ability to feed herself...and for a time fingers worked better than a spoon or fork!

Did it get messy sometimes?  Oh yes!  She needed our help with some kinds of food.  Sometimes, she just needed someone there with a washrag to help clean her up.

Now...she feeds herself daily.  There are some things she chooses to eat...other things are not her favorite.  What tastes good to us...often isn't good for us...and we have had to help her discern what constitutes a healthy meal.  We cannot live on all sweets...which is her favorite part of eating.  Actually, Ashlynn has developed an interest in cooking and baking.  She fixes her own meals and helps fix the family meals.  She enjoys that chance to practice what she has learned...and it is a help to those around her.

I sat here this morning and watched her get something ready to eat for breakfast.  We have come a long way in ten years!  And I am so thankful!  That is how it is supposed to be!

We are to be growing spiritually...day by day and year by year.  We should be developing the ability and appetite for something more than the milk of the Word.  We should be picking up God's Word for ourselves on a daily basis...feasting from the table that He has spread before us.

We don't depend on someone to feed us physically...once we have the ability to do it on our own...unless there are circumstances that require it medically. 

So why do we expect the Pastor to solely feed us spiritually? 

It seems to me that we would be very offended if someone would walk up and try to start feeding us physically...yet we expect Pastors to feed us spiritually and blame him if we are not growing. 

 I don't get it!  It makes no sense!  And God didn't expect us to just sit our whole life with our mouths open...waiting...

Proverbs 9:9-12

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser:  teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:  and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.  If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself:  but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it."

If you are hungry, feed yourself from God's Word daily! 

 Messages from our pastors, evangelists, and teachers may bring a needed dietary change

...or...

they could even be considered dessert for a whole week's worth of spiritual meals!