Sometime back newscaster Paul Harvey reported that the average person blinks his eyes 13 times every minute. That's an interesting bit of trivia. But what really interested me was what I also read this week about the problem of world hunger.

I read that 13 people starve to death every minute in this world. That means, of course, that every time you and I blink our eyes, another person has died from starvation.

Now I am usually unaware of blinking my eyes. It's just an automatic reflex. I don't have to be concerned over it, or even think about it it just happens 13 times every minute big deal. That's the same attitude many of us have about the world's starving masses big deal. I mean, it's sad I wish it were different. But what can we do about it? That's just the way things are! That's really an unfortunate attitude isn't it? It really doesn't affect us or move us too deeply to learn that more than 30 people mostly children and elderly have died somewhere in the world since this sermon began. We are too far removed from the hungry to really identify with their plight. Few of us have ever gone to bed hungry, wondering if we'd get so much as a bowl of rice to eat tomorrow. Most often our biggest worry is not whether we'll eat, but when, what and how much we'll eat.

Not many of us have had our hearts torn out as we listened to our children cry all night because they've had nothing to eat for days. Few of us have buried member of our family simply because we did not have the $.60 for the medical vaccine which would have prevented the disease from which they died.

In the October 1974 issue of Newsweek Magazine I read that in India, men were having to leave their families in order to look for food. The Indian Press reported cases of families committing suicide rather than die a lingering death of starvation. It even reported of distraught parents throwing small children into rivers to drown them rather than face starvation.

Not many of us have to make daily decisions whether to turn on the heat on a cold day or eat a meal because we can't afford both on our small Social Security income. Some of the elderly of this community are aware that the one balanced meal they receive each day through Meals On Wheels is the only thing that keeps them out of an institution.

On and on our shocking statistics could go, but I suspect you've heard as many facts and figures as I have, and somehow they never seem to convince or convict anyone about the enormity of the hunger problem. We sit comfortably in our airconditioned church buildings and say, "Isn't it a pity." But it never seems to make much difference in the way we respond to hunger appeal or in the way we simplify our own lifestyles or in giving assistance to the elderly of our community. It doesn't make many of us stop to thank God for the many blessings he has bestowed on us and symbolize our thanksgiving by sacrificially sharing those blessings with the less fortunate. Few of us show gratitude to the Lord for our welldressed, wellfed families by giving generously to the World Hunger Appeal, crops, or meals on wheels. Most of us have not responded to the needs of the hungry as we could . . . none of us has responded as we should, because there are two attitudes you and I must overcome in our lives before we can genuinely be concerned about those who are less fortunate than we. First, and perhaps most basic, we must overcome our apathy.

Too many of us Christians have changed our Theology into Meology . . . meaning that my real Christian concern is for me . . . but not for Thee. To many, the church is to serve me . . . to meet my needs . . . a place to seek my salvation . . . to worship my God. That's Meology. It is not concerned about the needs of others. (It is the people of God rotting with apathy.) That is the very same problem the prophet Amos saw in Israel: "Woe to you; who are complacent in Zion . . . You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves . . . you drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of your brother."

The Jewish people did not grieve over the ruin of their brothers. They did not care. They did not really consider themselves their "brother's keeper" as God said we are. Their brothers ruin did not bother them. They still had their ivory bed, choice meats and fine wines. They were still enjoying the "Good life" why should they care???? Why? Because God demanded it. He demanded them to act concerned whether they genuinely felt it or not. God expected them to share from their abundance to help those who were less fortunate. And since they would not share, since they were motivated by Meology instead of Theeology, they received God's judgement: Amos 6: 7 says, "Therefore you will be among the first to lose your nation. Your feasting and lounging will end."

Is there not a message in this passage for us? Are we not also in danger of getting wrappedup in Meology instead of Theeology? The scriptural mandate is for us to love our neighbor to be actively concerned about the hurts and pains of others. And even when we don't genuinely feel that concern, we still have a responsibility to act like it . . . in obedience to the Lord.

Perhaps you've heard the story about the old drunk who was paid to situp all night in a funeral home in a viewing room with an open coffin in case anyone came late to pay their respects. Unknown to the town drunk, he was being setup by some practical jokers. In the quietness of the early morning hours, the body in the coffin sat up and screamed. Very calmly the drunk got up, staggered over to the casket, and pushed the body back down saying, "If you're dead, lie down and act like it."

Now the flipside of that punch line could easily be addressed to many of us Christians, "If you are alive, stand up and act like it!!" If our faith is alive, it will lead off from Meology to Theeology. If our love is real, it will motivate us to live sacrificially and give generously from our abundance for the sake of those who are hurting.

The first attitude which must be overcome in us in order for us to help the hungry is apathy. The second attitude which must be overcome is that one which says "Let's just pray for God to feed the hungry. It goes without saying that God alone can feed the hungry. He who created the universe, He who dropped manna from heaven to feed the Hebrews and He who broke bread in the wilderness to feed the multitudes certainly can feed the hungry in the world today. With just one word he could make food appear on all tables. But this world and this life are a testing ground for God's people. He has given us the responsibility for each other. Is it simply good luck that America has some of the most fertile and productive farm land in the world? No, we Christians believe it is God's blessing! Is it purely a coincidence that our average annual income in America is 60 times as much as 1/3 of the world, who exist on less than $ 100 a year. No, we Christians believe it is God's blessing! Is it only happenstance that our nation is teeming with great minds which have produced the most nutritious food resources in the world, which in turn has produced the healthiest nation in the world? No we Christians believe it to be God's blessing! Is it mere chance that we who are so wealthy, healthy and wellfed find the poor, sick and starving at our doorsteps pleading with outstretched hands? No, we Christians believe it is God's testing. That's right!! The world is the testground of our commitment to Jesus Christ!! We who have been so richly blessed must realize that we are blessed for a purpose. We are not blessed because we have worked hard many have worked harder and have nothing. We are not blessed because we are so good or because we deserve to be blessed. No we have been given much so that we can give much. In Luke 7: 47 Jesus said, "To whom much has been given, much is required." There is no question that much has been given to us. Therefore God expects much from us. Share with those who have so much less. The test is of our faithfulness, our gratitude, our willingness to obey, and our responsibility to our neighbor. It is a test which many fail.

In Luke 16 we read about how the rich man was tested by the constant presence of Lazarus, the poor beggar at his doorsteps. The rich man didn't care enough to help he failed the test and was condemned.

Then there is the rich fool in Luke 12. One year he had such an abundant crop that his barns would not hold it all. Rather than share with his less fortunate neighbors, he decided to build bigger barns in which to storeup for his own future. He failed the test that very night his life was required of him! The false attitude is that God alone will feed the hungry. Therefore, we don't have to. All we need do is pray for them asking God to provide their food. That was the attitude which the disciples had in Mark 6:30 after Jesus had taught the 5,000 in the wilderness. It was getting late, the people were hungry. The apostles wanted to send them away so they could find food for themselves. But Jesus instructed them, "You give them something to eat." The disciples went to Jesus with their concern about the hungry people, hoping he would take care of their needs. But Jesus redirected their requestputting the responsibility back on them. You see, it is not enough for us simply to pray about the needs of the hungryasking God to send them food. Because he turns right around and sends us with the food.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once heard about a man in his community named Tom who was destitute and desperate. Wesley wrote him a comforting letter of Hope which read in part, "Dear Tom: I pray that life will soon be easier for you and your family, remember Psalm 37: 3 which says ˜Trust in the Lord . . . and verily you shall be fed.'" With this letter Wesley included a $ 10 bill a sizeable amount of money in those days. . . .

Not long after that, Dr. Wesley received this gracious reply from the man: "Dear Dr. Wesley: I have often been struck by the beauty of the scripture passage you quoted. But I understand even better now how it is that the Lord feeds the hungry. Thank you for your much needed gift."

It is not enough to pray and offer words of Heavenly Benediction for those in need we must act. We see exactly that in James 2: 1516 which says "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothing or daily food. What good is there in your saying to them ˜God bless you! Keep warm and eat well.' If you do not give them the necessities of life?"

James' point is that there is nothing good in such an attitude. We must put our faith into action. We must respond to the physical needs of others not only with prayer but also with tangible help. If our faith is real it will motivate us beyond talk to sacrificial action.

God feeds the hungry and helps the hopeless through us His body in the world today. When we pray for Him to help. He reminds us that He has provided us with the abundant resource and the means to feed the hungry. He says, "Yes, I will help through you!"

In Germany after World War II, some American soldiers were cleaning up a large cathedral which had been hit by a bomb. It was the task of one soldier to gather all the fragmented pieces of statues into a pile. He found a beautiful statue of Jesus that was completely intact except the hands were missing. He searched all through the rubble but could not find the missing hands. Finally he placed the handless statue on the altar and put a sign in front of it. The sign read as if Jesus were saying, "Your hands are my hands." And how true that is. We are the Lord's hands in the world today by which He feeds the hungry. We are His eyes to see the oppressed. We are His mouth to proclaim the good news of salvation. We are His arms to lift up the downtrodden. We are the body of Christ in the world. When we pray, "Lord won't you do something to feed the starving and help the elderly?" He responds to us, "Yes, I will send you. For I have given you more than you need so that you can share with others in need."

Every time we blink our eyes today, let's be reminded that someone in the world has died of starvation. Much of that can be alleviated if we respond to God's tremendous blessing by generously sharing with those who have so little. Today we have two wonderful opportunities to help locally with the "meals on wheels" program and internationally through the world hunger appeal. The Lord has given us the blessings and now He is giving us the testing How will you respond?