Several weeks into the lockdown, we ran out of flour. We went to the grocery store with a short list of items, and flour was at the top. We found that in addition to toilet paper, paper towels, and hand sanitizer, the stores were also out of flour, rice, and other staples.

We tried several stores but found the same result: people were buying up flour alongside other items to avoid running out. We kept looking and finally went to a well-known store in the Valley that sells many bulk items as they are a distributor to many local grocery stores.

In the staples aisle, we found one lone bag of flour—their last one. The problem was, it was a 50-pound bag. We don’t usually buy flour in quantity, so we stood there for a while, debating what to do. For those reading this who still have a bunch of kids at home, you may not hesitate to buy a 50-pound bag of flour and may do so regularly. But as our kids are all out of the house, we don’t buy things in such bulk anymore and wondered whether it was overkill. We finally decided to buy the large bag with a plan of sharing it with our son and daughter and anyone else who had a need.

But here’s the thing. I felt guilty. As I hoisted the last bag of flour in the entire store into our grocery cart, I couldn’t help thinking that there might be someone who needed it more than us. The shelves were bare, and I knew the reason was that people were hoarding. They were hoarding paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, rice, and flour. We needed flour.

And we all know what we make with flour. Which brings us to bread—the Bread of Life that is. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35). Jesus is the sustenance of life, both now and eternal. He is the ultimate staple. When we think of stocking up on staples, we think of flour, sugar, salt, and of course, coffee. There are certain things we need to survive, but spiritually we need the Bread of Life to survive. He is essential.

During the pandemic, it has been essential to keep stocked up on staples. Food means life, and we need food to survive. But just as it is wrong to hoard bread (or the ingredients to make it), so is it wrong to hoard the Bread of Life. There are many instances in which we might hoard food for ourselves. Taking the last slice of pizza, the last cookie, hiding snacks for yourself alone. I mean, who would do that, right? Okay, you can have your guilty pleasure of peanut M&Ms (that’s me). But, we should never hoard the Bread of Life. Never.

There is an often-quoted definition of evangelism: “Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” We have found bread. We have found life. We have found Him. He is the Bread of Life. He graciously drew us to Himself when we would have continued going our own way. Like undeserving beggars, we humbly asked for the bread, which satisfies our hunger forever. Others need to find this Bread; they need this sustenance, this Bread, this life, this Savior.

During the pandemic of sin in which we live, let us not hoard for ourselves the Bread of Life that removes sin and replaces it with life eternal. Don’t hoard the Bread of Life, share it. Share Him with others who need Him as much as you do. Their eternity depends on it, and we have the One who will fulfill their lives now and forever.

Hallelujah! I have found Him
Whom my soul so long has craved!
Jesus satisfies my longings,
Through His blood I now am saved.
—Clara Teare Williams, Satisfied