The disciples of Jesus had gone into the city of Samaria to find something to eat, while Jesus conversed with a woman about eternal truths (John 4:8). When they returned with the sustenance and encouraged the Lord to eat, he replied, “I have food to eat of which you do not know…My food is to do the will of Him sent Me, and to finish His work” (4:32, 34).

There is not a person of any age that does not think about food everyday. God created us in such a way that we need to eat in order to survive. Consequently, we seldom let too many hours pass by without eating something. Yet the Bible indicates that, as important as our physical health is, our spiritual health is infinitely more important.

“For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37).

“Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life…” (John 6:27).

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

 From these facts comes a sobering question: if my spiritual health is more important than my physical health, and I feed my physical body two or three times a day, then how much should I be feeding my soul?

Jesus pronounced a great blessing upon those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6). Far too many Christians are living beneath their privileges and suffering from spiritual malnutrition because they have filled their lives with so many insignificant matters that they have no time to feed that only part of them that will live beyond this life.

Did you feed your soul today?

Eddie Parrish