Week 5 Monday – 1 Kings 8:1-7,9-13; Mark 6:53-56
The scene in 1 Kings 8:5 can raise some eyebrows: Solomon and all of Israel gathered to sacrifice so many sheep and oxen that they couldn’t even keep count. Some might scream, “What a waste!” It’s easy to question these rituals, thinking, “God doesn’t need all that, right?” But let’s pause and think: God raised the Israelites much like parents guide their growing kids, teaching them step by step. They didn’t just appear out of nowhere – they lived in a time and place where sacrifices were the norm.
Sure, people might say there are hungry people who could have benefited from those animals. It’s a valid point, especially today as we grapple with funding cuts in hospitals and care homes. But let’s be real: closing churches won’t magically fix healthcare or make everyone’s lives better. In fact, when care is reduced to numbers and productivity, we risk turning to dark paths like assisted dying or tossing aside those whom society deems “unworthy.”
Let’s not forget Judas’ comment about selling expensive oil for the poor. It was less about the poor and more about his own wallet. So, before we point fingers about charity, let’s take a hard look at how much we actually give and lend a hand. Lord Jesus, I ask for the things that money can’t buy – health and strength to spread Your goodness to those who truly need it.
