Serving Meals

Serving meals can be daunting, both in and out of our homes, and yet we are called to do both anyways.  1 Peter 4:10 tells us, "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace."  Do this not out of duty, but out of love, and remember Proverbs 11:25, "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."

There was this unspoken rule at my grandma's house when I was growing up.  If it were a special occasion, holiday, or there was company over, the evening meal was to be served in serving dishes.  No pots and pans were allowed on the table.  It was almost as if serving food from the pot it was cooked in was the worst faux pas a hostess could commit.  However, I have come to learn that you can still be a gracious hostess, even if you don't have a whole china cabinet full of serving ware.  Serving meals has more to do with who you serve than how or what you serve.  We are called to be hospitable people.  1 John tells us that people will know we are Christians by our love for one another.  We should start by gathering together with other Christians.  Invite people over to share dinner after services on Sunday.  Schedule times to have other families join you for an evening meal.  You don't have to do something big and fancy.  There are many Sundays when I just throw a pot roast, soup, or chili in the crock pot.  I try to make enough so that we can comfortably ask another family to join us after church. What you make doesn't have to be fancy, it's more about spending time with people than what food you are serving.  Meals are a great way to talk to people and get to know them better.  While it is great to meet with people individually, it is also nice to develop friendships among small groups of people.  This strengthens friendships across many families.  Let serving meals be a way to connect to people and families in your church.

I once heard that you cannot have a birth or a death in the church without food.  While meant as a joke, it rings with truth.  One way we care for others is through the provision of food during difficult times.  While food cannot help someone recover from a loss, it does provide for their basic needs.  It also allows you to grieve with someone who is grieving.  You don't have to come with a prepared speech, sometimes it is nice to have someone with which to sit and grieve.  When Job was grieving the loss of his children, health, and wealth, his friends came and sat with him.  While they did eventually offer some advice, they started by just sitting with him.  Job 2:11-13 tells us, “Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite.  They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.  And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him.  And they raised their voices and wept, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads toward heaven.  And they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.”  Being present and providing basic necessities can be just what they need to get through a difficult time.  Likewise, when people are facing a life-changing event, such as a new baby, it is helpful to have necessities provided so you can focus on other things, like your baby.  New moms can use help with getting meals for their family, cleaning the house, doing laundry, or other such housekeeping that can seem overwhelming while caring for a new baby.  It may not seem like much to bring a meal, but to the person who receives it, that is one less thing to worry about that day.  Serving others in their time of need is a great way to express your love for them and encourage them with the gospel.  

Many churches also have times of fellowship in which everyone can contribute food.  Rather than be intimidated by this time of gathering, embrace the opportunity to gather together.  It doesn’t matter what you bring.  Many people will bring something they have made numerous times and feel comfortable making it.  I tend to be the opposite and think of it as a great time to make something new and get more diverse feedback.  However you approach it, it is more about the time spent with fellow believers than what food you bring.  There are often other ways to contribute to these gatherings as well.  Many hands make light work, so join in the setup or clean up to help make it a fun time for all involved.  Use even clean-up time as a way to get to know other people and encourage them in their faith.

As you can see, serving meals can take many different forms.  You don’t have to be the best or most creative cook to gather with others around a meal.  Take the time, put forth the effort, and serve meals to others.  Follow the example of the early church, “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers…And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.  And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42, 46-47)