I Got Rumbly In My Tummy

 

# 115 I Got Rumbly In My Tummy

 

Joh 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

 

These people were following Jesus because it was an opportunity for a free lunch. This “free lunch” mentality is still with us today and it is called the “prosperity gospel.” Beware of this doctrine, because the only ones who are prospering are those who are peddling it.

 

Jesus knows the dangers of chasing after Him solely for the purpose of physical blessing and immediately sets the crowd straight. Sometimes we get so locked in to the physical blessings of following Jesus, that we forget to seek after that which really matters, and that is the blessing of eternal life!

 

What has Jesus told us? “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)

 

The danger in seeking physical blessings first is this: What about the times when they are not forthcoming? What about the times that cancer stays? What about the times your ship doesn’t come in? What happens to these recently fed people that Jesus was dealing with when their tummies start rumbling and Jesus says, “Okay everybody, time to go into town for supper, see you tomorrow? The grumbling begins doesn’t it! “What a rip off! It’s in His power to feed us again! What kind of God is this who won’t give us what we want here and now!

 

This is the cry of those who would attempt to serve God AND mammon! If we tie the love of God solely into physical blessings, it won’t be long and we’ll be hating God!. Eugene Petersen paraphrases Mt 6:24 in “The Message” as follows: “You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and money both.”

 

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you are lacking bread? (also known as money) As you wonder why God isn’t providing what you want (as opposed to what you really need) do you find contempt for Him building in your heart? This is a strong warning sign that you are seeking after mammon rather than God!

 

Here’s the thing about mammon. You can’t take it with you. Hearses don’t come with U-Hauls. Mammon perishes! This is the point that Jesus makes in verse 27. “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food that endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

 

He will satisfy your needs for eternity. At best, mammon will satisfy for a moment, because when the moment passes your tummy will be rumbling again.

 

Moment? Or eternity? Put that on a timeline and let it be your guide! See where this wisdom leads you!