My attention was drawn to a lady who showed up in our Church one Christmas season. The welfare department had put resources together to distribute food to people for the Yuletide. However, she disappeared after the freebies were over. I did not hesitate to describe her as a “rice convert”. Before we are quick to judge her, we should ponder and consider how many people are of this frame of mind. For example, how many people will remain in our churches without the “goodies” which the pastors “hawk” on their pulpit all year round? The fact remains that many people go to seek God to satisfy their temporal needs. This was what Jesus rebuked in our Bible passage for today. Those who had eaten of the miracle loaves combed everywhere in search of Jesus; apparently in search of another meal. Jesus taught them to seek after the food that can uphold the soul. When all our preoccupation in places of worship is informed by how to feed, clothe, and meet other needs of life, we are going in the way of the Gentiles.

While it is not forbidden to seek for money or material benefits from God, they must never be the focal point of our spiritual journey.

In our previous meditation, we learned that the love of money can be expressed in several ways. While it is not forbidden to seek for money or material benefits from God, they must never be the focal point of our spiritual journey. Also, seeking these things must never be in the same way that the gentiles go about it or for the same reason. The gentiles are anxious for all of these things, and they mainly desire them for vain glory.