On "Not Being Fed Meat"

Recently I heard two teachings from unrelated ministries that, at first glance, had nothing to do with each other. But when considering the picture as a whole, it was like superficially contrary verses that suddenly bring revelation when viewed in a proper Light.

One message had to do with a survey that concluded that the overwhelming number of people leaving a church are leaving because they claimed they were "not being fed enough meat".

The other message had to do with the will of the Father as our "meat".

There are many references to "meat" in the New Testament. Most are referencing meat that is consumed at a meal.

Other times it is a spiritual reference. Several by Paul (1 Corinthians 10:1-4; 1 Corinthians 3:1-2), by the writer of Hebrews (5:12-14), and several times by Jesus (John 4:30-34; 6:26-27).

I want to look at Jesus' use of the word in John 4:34:

"Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

When we are mature (read Paul's "meat" scriptures) we understand "meat" in the context that Jesus spoke of it. We change our expectation of a church providing a "meal" for us and we turn from wanting more and more in order to be satisfied to looking inward to discover what God is requiring of us. Then we go to work.

We don't leave the church, we leave our excuses.

That is where we are satisfied with mature food, by fulfilling His will for us.

If we want more meat, perhaps we should stop demanding more from a teaching or a Pastor or a conference, and we should commit ourselves to getting fed how Jesus got fed - by doing the will of God.