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Mary Hunt Webb is an inspirational and motivational speaker. Mary's husband, Morris, is her prayer support, road manager, and technical expert. (You're viewing the fruit of his labors right now!) Together, the Webbs have traveled to many states to share encouragement and God's love.
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Have You Eaten?
¿Ha Comido Ud.?
by
Mary Hunt Webb
Posted Sunday, October 29, 2023
Meeting students from other countries can introduce us to new ways of interacting with people from other cultures. [Photographer: Naassom Azevedo. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
While I worked at a university and also took a class, I met students from other countries that were taking an intensive course in English as a Second Language. I soon became part of their group that met every day for snacks and conversation.
When my new friends arrived at my home and I started to get into the car, their greeting to me was, "Have you eaten?" [Photographer: Mikesphotography. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
When several of them invited me to join them for an outing, I accepted. After they arrived at my home and I started to get into the car, they did not greet me with, "Hi" or ask, "How are you?". Instead, they asked, "Have you eaten?"
When I expressed surprise, they explained that it was the initial greeting in their culture because they couldn't do anything to fix the response to, "How are you?" However, they could do something about the reply to the greeting, "Have you eaten?" If you hadn't eaten, they would feed you!
I was amazed because, although most of these students were not Christians, they still practiced one of Jesus' teachings!
In Matthew 25:35-45, Jesus spoke of the long-term results of meeting the short-term physical needs of others, some of whom might be strangers. In essence, Jesus said that when a person is hungry, thirsty, lonely or otherwise distressed, we should do what we can to meet that person's needs. When we do that, it's the same as though we are doing it for Him. That's what He meant when He said, '"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in." (Matthew 25:35, NIV)
Jesus goes on to say, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40, NIV)
Amazingly, that's what the international students practiced when they greeted me as they did, although they didn't know that it was a teaching of Jesus.
Perhaps our friends and acquaintances might regard us as strange if we exchanged our customary greeting for a question about their recent meal. However, after a minute or two of conversation, we can determine what their needs are so that we can decide if we have the ability or resources to meet one or two of those needs.
It's what Jesus would expect us to do.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please open my eyes to the needs of others so that they can see Jesus in me. In the name of Jesus, amen.
BIBLE VERSES USED IN THIS POSTING
Matthew 25:35 — For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. (NIV)
Mateo 25:35 — Porque tuve hambre, y me disteis de comer; tuve sed, y me disteis de beber; fui forastero, y me recogisteis. (Reina-Valera 1960)
Matthew 25:40 — Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me. (NIV)
Mateo 25:40 — De cierto os digo que en cuanto lo hicisteis a uno de estos mis hermanos más pequeños, a mí lo hicisteis. (Reina-Valera 1960)
The simple act of buying a slice of pizza for a hungry person can carry out Jesus' teaching. [Photographer: Marker Photography. Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com.]
