The Bible Edge
Thank You Lord
Genesis 1:11
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
On the third day of creation God created agricultural food items. On the fifth day He created fish and birds, on the sixth, animals. From these three categories comes our food supply. Plants, fish, fowl, and meat. Oh, yeah, on the first day He created the earth, including the waters, and on the fourth day He created the sun, moon, and stars. From the dirt of the earth, sunlight, and water comes the necessary elements to sustain fish, birds, animals, and plant life. From which comes all food that is necessary to maintain human life.
So, perhaps, it’s a good thing to thank Him for every meal. After all, all food comes from Him. Yes, grocers make it available, and we pay for the convenience. Transporters transport food from their source to grocery stores. Processors process the meat items. Harvesters harvest the crops. Farmers and ranchers do their part in raising food items and are paid for their labor. Cities invest in water treatment measures to ensure a safe and clean water supply. All of these workers, and more, make money on planting, growing, harvesting, transporting, packaging, sometimes preparing, and selling all sorts of food items. They should be paid, for the work they do is noble and vital to a plentiful food supply.
But the fresh water God sends through rain, the streams, lakes, ponds, and seas no one has to purchase. The sun that does its part of germination and growth of crops is free, He does not send bills to the farmers or ranchers or poultry producers for water, sun, oxygen, or even the process by which things, animals, or birds, grow. These are free. He charges no fee on using those elements, processes, and dirt which He created freely to be used by all generations.
The farmer, transporters, harvesters, merchants, traders, grocers, processors, and cooks are thanked by receiving money for their effort. But what thanks does God receive? Each time a person takes time to pray a prayer of thanks before eating they acknowledge the free gifts of God to provide the food in which they are about to partake. Without dirt, water, sun, and oxygen, there would be no grain, fruit, nuts, corn, vegetables, meat, or drink. The basic needs for all food stems freely from a loving Father to His children. Even the breath of life in our bodies comes from Him at no cost to us.
In all our giving of thanks, let us continually thank Him from whom all life began, is sustained, and maintained. The Lord God of Heaven.
William T. Howe, Ph.D.
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