The Sunday Sermonette – Are You Starving?

When I was a child, if I refused to eat what was on my plate, one of my parents would say, “If you get hungry enough, you’ll eat.” Most of the time, I gave in and ate, even though I didn’t like it. But one Sunday after church, I heard a story that changed my mind about food forever.

Mom and Dad had asked Elsie and Smitty Smith over for lunch. She was large and tall; he was short and skinny. She liked to talk; he didn’t unless something interested him. When Mom put a steaming bowl of buttery squash on the table, my face showed my distaste. Smitty smiled as he watched me divide my squash into tiny pieces, take a bite, then struggle to swallow it.

“Andy,” he said in a gentle but raspy voice, due to years of smoking, “You’d like squash if it was the only thing you had to eat.” “Mr. Smitty, I’d starve first.” “Trust me, Andy, you wouldn’t. Have I ever told you about being in a Japanese concentration camp during the war?” At that point, I was all ears. I loved it when he and Dad talked about World War II. It set my 13-year-old imagination on fire.

I don’t remember where Smitty fought in the Pacific theater or if he was captured or surrendered to the Japanese along with other American soldiers. I wish I did. I do know that Imperial Japan viewed surrender or capture as dishonorable. Those who did were seen as undeserving of respect and treated as virtually sub-human. As a result, their treatment of captives was harsh. Our soldiers were forced to work in harsh climates and endure grueling schedules of back-breaking labor. Filthy water and meager rations, combined with dysentery and malaria, reduced our soldiers to virtual skeletons in months.

Smitty told me he and his fellow soldiers survived on a poor diet of rice—sometimes only a cup a day—mixed with rancid vegetables. “We were hungry 24/7,” he said, “And if something moved, we ate it.” Much to my disgust, he told me about cooking a dog and a few “nice-sized” rats. Smitty said his hunger gnawed at his stomach and psyche. Thinking about food replaced every other thought.

Last week, I had breakfast with dear friends. While we talked, laughed, and ate scrambled eggs and hashbrowns, I looked out across the tranquil waters of the Gulf. For a split second, I thought of Smitty and his longing for food and nothing else. As I drove home, I thought about another kind of food that nourishes more than just the body. It nourishes our souls. And we should long for it.

In the Book of Matthew, we are reminded that “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” This should remind Believers that spiritual food is as essential as physical food. Longing for spiritual food involves simple practices like setting aside a few minutes each morning for a devotional, reading a Bible passage before bed, or beginning the day with a prayer for guidance can be a first step in engaging with Father God’s Word in practical ways.

By immersing ourselves in scripture, even in small, intentional ways, we gain wisdom, encouragement, and strength to face the challenges of this crazy world. Please long for the spiritual food that comes from reading the Good Book. It nourishes your mind, your soul, and every aspect of your life. Just as a well-nourished tree stands strong against the storms, your soul will find unwavering strength and resilience through daily nourishment from Father God’s Word.

As a child long ago, I was fascinated by Smitty’s sad story about the horrors of a Japanese concentration camp. While there, he sought food for his body. As we struggle along the bumpy path of life, let us long for the spiritual food found in the Good Book. Jesus himself said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” In so doing, you’ll discover a boundless source of hope, healing, and transformation.

Ponder this and go forth.