The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

—John 6:26–27

The idea that if we serve God, we will have all our earthly wants filled is prevalent in today’s Christianity. Some think that if we serve him well, we are guaranteed a successful professional life, financial wealth (or at least stability), and good health.

Even those of us who don’t believe this outright often have the subconscious idea that if we’re obeying the Lord and trying to serve him, he should make everything smooth sailing for us.

When hardships hit, we often get angry with him and ask, “Why, Lord? I was doing my best to live for you!”

If our faith is shaken when this world does not satisfy, then our faith has really been in this world and the hopes that our service to and faith in the Lord will keep us “filled” in the here and now. 

We’ve still been working for the food that perishes. 

And if that’s where our faith is, it will always crumble because the foundation of this life’s fulfillment will always be shakable; it’s always perishing. Whatever satisfaction it can provide will always be temporary.

Christ is the bread of life (John 6:48), and only by making him our sustenance will we gain eternal life (John 6:58).

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