(April 04, 2020) Carol Round suggests a Christian angle on ‘stocking-up’ in these times of panic-buying…

Depending on what time of day you go to the grocery or big box store, you’ll find many shelves are empty or almost empty. Some individual’s carts are overflowing.

Discussing this panic-buying trend, a friend and I agreed people were stuffing their pantries and shelves in fear of not having enough.

Shouldn’t we Christians be filling-up on the word of God instead, allowing scriptures to soothe our fears?

After Jesus fasts in the wilderness for 40 days and 40 nights, he’s hungry (Read Matthew 4). Satan challenges him to turn the stones into bread if he is the Son of God. Jesus replies, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

Every Word From the Mouth of God
If you’re like me, this new ‘normal’ in our daily lives has us asking questions. We’re desperate for answers. Daily updates we read or hear about concerning this pandemic can lead to two reactions: panic – or peace.

We must make a choice.

To panic? Clearing out grocery shelves and hoarding for ourselves, or to trust God – that he is our provider and we accept his word? (In Philippians 4:19, we’re reminded that ‘God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus’).

Which will you choose? To find peace, we must spend time filling-up on the word of God, instead of filling up our grocery carts to overflowing. This should also be a time for self-reflection. (more…)