Dear All -
We had a good, educative bible study last Friday. The discussion went on for hours (as usual) on the topic of what does it mean to be a disciple.
This discussion was triggered by Jesus' statement "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life".
This times blog qns will revolve on this statement. What did Jesus mean when he said "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life". How can we make it practical in our life.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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JOHN CHPT 6: 27
“Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life;”
Question No: 1.
What did Jesus mean when he said Do not work for food ………………. Endureth to eternal life?
Question No: 2
How can we make it practical in our life?
The word spoils - in KJV is meant perisheth .
As per the Strongs Dictrionary the meaning is = to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively: - destroy, die, lose, mar, perish. Etc
As per some leading theologian’s opinion is that :-
Joh 6:27 - Labour not for the meat which perisheth.
This does not mean that we are to make no effort for the supply of our wants (compare ; 2Th_3:10). The Savior does not prohibit laboring for food, but making the acquisition of food and worldly things the leading object of life.
“Thought” about the future is right; “anxiety, solicitude, trouble” is wrong. There is a degree of “thinking” about the things of this life which is proper. See 1Ti_5:8; 2Th_3:10; But it should not be our supreme concern; it should not lead to anxiety.
The word “anxiety” would now exactly express the sense, and is precisely the thing against which the Saviour would guard us. See Luk_8:14; Luk_21:34; Phi_4:6.
He means: that we are not to manifest anxiety, we are not to make this the main or supreme object of our desire. See at Mat_6:25. The “first” is stated in Mat_6:25; “Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”
In the beginning of the verse he charged his disciples to take “no thought” - that is, not to be “anxious” about the supply of their wants. In illustration of this he says that God has given “life,” a far greater blessing than “meat;” that he has created the body, of far more consequence than raiment. Shall not he who has conferred the “greater” blessing be willing to confer the “less?” Shall not he who has formed the body so curiously, and made in its formation such a display of power and goodness, see that it is properly protected and clothed? He who has displayed “so great” goodness as to form the body, and breathe into it the breath of life, will surely “follow up” the blessing, and confer the “smaller” favor of providing that that body shall be clothed, and that life preserved.
He directs them to better principles (Joh_6:27): Labour for that meat which endures to everlasting life. With the woman of Samaria he had discoursed of spiritual things under the similitude of water; here he speaks of them under the similitude of meat, taking occasion from the loaves they had eaten.
How can we make it practical in our life?
His design is, to moderate our worldly pursuits: Labour not for the meat that perishes. This does not forbid honest labour for food convenient, 2Th_3:12. But we must not make the things of this world our chief care and concern. The things of the world are meat that perishes. Worldly wealth, honour, and pleasure, are meat, they feed the fancy (and many times this is all) and fill the belly. These are things which mean hunger after as meat, but they perish, are of a perishing nature.
It is therefore folly for us inordinately to labour after them. We must not labour the works thereof, for this perishing meat, with an eye to this; we must not make our religion subservient to a worldly interest, nor aim at secular advantages in sacred exercises.
We must not at all labour for this meat; that is, we must not make these perishing things our chief good, nor make our care and pains about them our chief business; not seek those things first and most, Pro_23:4, Pro_23:5.
Do not manifest a chief anxiety for bodily food, but rather seek the meat which endureth unto everlasting life. The food of the soul; the Bread of Life which the son of man shall give unto you; meaning either everlasting life, which is in Christ's gift, and is a free grace gift of his; or else the meat which endures unto it: for though it is to be laboured for, not so as to prepare it, or to purchase it, but by asking for it in prayer, and by attending on ordinances, and exercising faith on Christ; yet it is his gift, and he gives it freely; grace, and the blessings of it, are freely given by him, and so are the Gospel and its ordinances; and also his own flesh, which is first given by him, by way of sacrifice, in the room and stead of his people, and for the life of them, Joh_6:51; and then it is given unto them to feed upon spiritually by faith, and which is here designed:
That meat which endureth - The supply of your spiritual wants; that which supports, and nourishes, and strengthens the soul; the doctrines of the gospel, that are to a weak and guilty soul.
Labour, work for this; for everlasting life. So our Lord expressly commands, work for life, from a principle of faith and love. To everlasting life - The strength derived from the doctrines of the gospel is not exhausted. It endures without wasting away. It nourishes the soul to everlasting life. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint,” Isa_40:31.
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