Potluck for the Homeless

And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. (Acts 2:44 NLT)

Guests at potluck dinners usually feel very blessed when they open a pot of food because cooks tend to serve their best. This is according to Becky Wright who wrote the article ‘Story Potluck Entertains with Mouthwatering Tales’ at Go.Standard.Net. Wright mentioned in her article that guests at the Story Potluck are twice as blessed because they get to taste a variety of foods and hear stories related to the recipes. The Story Potluck is a fundraiser for The Road Home, a Salt Lake City agency that helps the homeless.

"I really think the project is such a great idea because food and stories go hand in hand,” said Wright. “It's the way we pass on our traditions, and for all of our favorite recipes there are memories and stories to go along with them. The fact that it all goes to such a good cause is really another draw."

Each recipe submitted to the fund raiser is accompanied by the story of how the dish came to be special to the person submitting it. The top recipes, along with their stories, are published in a printed cookbook as well as an e-book. The book’s debut is a community meal to benefit one of Utah’s homeless services providers. Winning entrants are invited to attend the annually held event to prepare their recipe and then perform the accompanying story in the after-dinner program.

Back in the days of the New Testament, something similar to potluck was also practiced by the believers of Christ. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity. All the believers shared everything they had and were united in heart and mind, and all of them felt what they owned was not their own (Acts 2:44-46; 4:32).

Like the charity event organized by the Story Potluck and the sharing of meals by the believers of old, do we also share generously to help the needy? Some of us, no doubt, may be struggling to make ends meet, let alone consider giving to the poor. Yet, do we have in our hearts the willingness to give of ourselves to help those who have greater needs than our own? We know the story of the poor widow who gave out of her poverty the two very small copper coins (Mark 12:42-44; Luke 21:2-4). Do we care enough to give a hand to help someone get back on his or her feet?

As believers in the Lord, we should not value the things of this world as something to hold to or keep. Instead, each of us should decide in our heart how much to give, not reluctantly or in response to pressure, for God loves a cheerful giver. He will generously provide all our needs that we will always have enough and plenty left over to share with others (2 Corinthians 9:7-8).

Dear Lord, thank You for always blessing us and meeting our needs. We know Lord that all good things come from You and of Your own do we share them with those in need. Help us therefore Lord to give willingly to the homeless and the poor, and to those who need help more than us even amid our own struggles. We claim upon Your promise O Lord that in giving cheerfully, we will always be blessed with everything we need. Whether in the sharing of food with others or in the raising of funds to help the poor Lord, teach us to do our very best with one mind and heart in performing the accompanying part.