Eating A Meal With Humility

Nearly two years ago my wife and I attended a Portuguese street festival. I ordered what I thought was a familiar dish recalling a time I lived in small town where many migrated from Portugal, namely the Azores. My friend's mother made a wonderful, savory soup with kale, chourico and potatoes. But that wasn't what I was served at the festival.

Disappointed we walked up the main street to find a church offering free Saturday dinners. All were welcome though most who attended were clearly economically disadvantaged. At the time my wife was without a job so we passed through doors armed with a reason for a free meal. The food was warm, delicious and the service was handled by polite children who made sure you had enough to drink and eat. Later free bread and extra meals were distributed to take home.

And tonight was no different. We now live in the area and decided to go back for another meal. We had a wonderful time talking to a woman who was beaming with pride over her son's accomplishments. She passed on information that another church offers free meals during the week except on Sundays and Mondays.

It's in these humble moments in sharing a meal with people who seem not overly concerned to acknowledge they are in need of a free dinner; that I'm more aware of my pride and arrogance of providing my own needs.

Christ ate with sinners and was accused of being a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34) but these same sinners were more receptive to His words than the religious rulers who rejected Him.

Eating with a stranger is one thing but sharing a meal with your family can be altogether a different matter. The New Living Translation describes it this way: "A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate." (Proverbs 15:17).

And that is why no matter what is served or who you eat with requires an attitude of humility. People tend to more attentive and open in the presence of humility. They may say things they wouldn't have otherwise said to someone else. Boastful or arrogant speaking will only shut down communication and cause the one who is most hungry for a word of kindness to be turned away.

Beloved, we can speak from a place of humility when we understand it's not about the food and drink but heavenly food we can share to the spiritually hungry and desolate. Proverbs 21:20 says, "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down." (NIV).

It's not what is on the plate but the heart of God in you that matters.