A fight between two teenagers, over who would get the tandoori roti first at a wedding ceremony, escalated so much that they died. Both hit each other with sticks, were injured, and died. (India Today, 5 May 2025) They were not starving for food. But they were competing to become the first person to eat at the marriage banquet. Alas, they did not live to eat anymore, anywhere, anything. For physical survival, food is essential, but it is not at the cost of life, the Word of God, and rights.
Life: The Lord Jesus Christ taught that life is more important than food. (Luke 12:23) David Guzik writes: “Greed and worry are closely connected. Greed can never get enough; worry is afraid it will never have enough – neither have their eyes on Jesus.” For those who are either greedy or anxious, the Lord taught that life is more important than food. If a person lives for food, that person degrades like an animal.
Word of God: The Lord Jesus Christ began His ministry by fasting forty days and forty nights. When the period of fasting was over, Satan challenged if He was the Son of God, if so, he could create bread out of stones and be satisfied. The Lord refused to do a miracle for his personal benefit. Instead, he quoted the Scripture: “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4)
Rights: Esau did not realize that the rights of the Firstborn were more important than food. Hence, his younger brother Jacob easily deceived him. He was exhausted from his hunting expedition, but not dying. Yet, he claimed that he was dying and that the Firstborn’s rights had no value. For a one-time meal, he sold his birthright. (Genesis 25:29-34) Today, people also forfeit their rights for food and other worldly needs. The highest right God has given sinners is an opportunity to become a child of the living God. (John 1:12)
Do I have the right values and priorities in my life?