Have you ever seen those candy bar commercials where the person is acting really mean and not himself? Then someone gives him a candy bar. He takes a bite and turns back into the person they know and love. The candy bar satisfied the “hanger”.
Being hungry isn’t a good feeling. Being “hangry” is worse. If you go without food for too long, it can cause you to do things you wouldn’t normally do…get angry at the least little thing, steal, hurt someone else, even kill if the hunger got bad enough.
Sometimes, though, the “hangry” feeling isn’t just for food. People are starving for acceptance and love. I know from experience that it is hard to express love to those who have hurt us or are just down-right mean. You want to get away form them as quickly as you can. The world is filled with “hangry” people who want to be fed with love and acceptance. How are we as Christians suppose to feed the “hangry” and unlovable people.
Share fruit with them. But not just any fruit will do. Feed them with the fruit of the Spirit! There are nine different fruits, and all of them are good for anyone and everyone who needs to curb their “hanger”
Love: Make an effort to really care.
Joy: Find something good in the little things.
Longsuffering/patience: Be patient. We don’t know what they are going through.
Kindness: Don’t be harsh. Firm, but not harsh.
Goodness: Be honest with them.
Faithfulness: Always encourage them.
Gentleness: Try not to be harsh.
Self-control: Show restraint the best you can when under pressure.
When it is hard to love or even show kindness to those who are mean, ask the LORD to help you. HE will show you ways to “feed” them. As you start sharing your fruit with people, they will begin to recognize something they need. Eventually they will begin to fill up on your fruit and seek this fruit on their own. If they don’t know the SAVIOR already, this fruit-sharing could bring them to JESUS! (Malachi 2:6 “…and he walked with ME in peace and uprightness and turned many from sin.) If they do know JESUS as SAVIOR, they will remember HIS goodness and come back to HIM.
People are looking for something to satisfy them. Matthew 7:10 says, ”By their fruit, you will know them.” As we share the fruit of the Spirit, people will notice.
“Hangry” people are longing to be fed. They want something that tastes good. Share your fruit with them. Psalm 34:8 says,” Oh taste and see that the LORD is good…” We as Christians know how good HE is. Share HIM so others will know how good HE is, too.