What’s more important, food or prayer?

Acts 6:1-7

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

In the early church in Jerusalem, there were Greek-speaking Jews (“Hellenists”) and Aramaic-speaking Jews, and there arose a problem: the Aramaic widows were given preferential treatment compared to the Greek widows in the way the church cared for their poor.

Food matters. If people are hungry they can’t be taught about Jesus. And yet:

Food isn’t what’s most important, because even with full bellies, every single person dies, and every single person still sins.

So, the Apostles divide up the work to make sure people can be fed and that the important spiritual work can continue.

I think there’s a lesson there for us today: material needs matter, because material needs are what keep us alive, but spiritual needs are ultimately more important.

Material needs must be met before we can even think about spiritual needs.

But material plenty with spiritual poverty is not kind of life to live. What good is it if our bellies are full if our souls are empty?

On the other hand, spiritual wealth—life in Christ—can teach us how to live well, whether we have a lot or a little.

So, do not neglect material needs, but don’t forget either that our deepest needs are actually spiritual: to know God and enjoy his eternal life forever.