It was Lord’s day in England, many years ago. Throngs of people in their Sunday clothes filled the streets.
In one very poor district, a house door opened, and a man, poor clad, downcast and wretched, came out and walked steadily down in the direction of the river. He left behind him, in his miserable home, an unhappy wife and three crying children. It was so long since they had tasted proper food! They had nothing now, not a crumb, and no more furniture worth selling. What could the poor man do?
As he walked sullenly along, he found himself among a throng of people, and almost without thinking, he followed them into a large cheerful building. As the meeting began, a man stood up with a Book in his hands, and these words riveted his attention, “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” Isaiah 41:1717When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. (Isaiah 41:17).
Very quietly, the poor man slipped out of his seat, and retraced his steps to the wretched home he had left. He had struggled through sickness and trouble to earn an honest living, but he had left God out, and now he scarcely knew how to begin.
As soon as he opened the door, he said, “Betsy, let us read together a chapter of the Bible.”
She hushed the children as he turned over the strange pages and began to read. This is what he read: “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:32, 3332(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:32‑33).
Then, after a moment’s silence, he said, “Betsy, let us pray.”
They rose from their knees with a great hunger for the Bread of Life. All the rest of that Lord’s day they feasted upon the Holy Book. God, who delights to satisfy the needs of His people, gave them joy of heart even in their deep poverty.
Can God do the same for you? Are you hungrily longing for something in this life, which God has not given you? God knows all about that. He longs to give you something better. He longs to save your soul, to fill your hungry soul with the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to satisfy you with Himself forever.
Next morning the man set out again on his search for work. At the door he met the postman, who gave him a letter containing a one-pound note (about three dollars), and the suggestion that he apply for work at a certain factory in the town. He did so and was immediately employed, and never again knew unsatisfied hunger.
Dear reader, do not leave God out of your life. Begin now, as this family did, with reading and prayer, and you will find that God still fills the hungry with good things.
ML 12/13/1953