In certain business circles you may hear the phrase, “You eat what you kill.” The general principle being that your personal compensation is based on the revenue that you have personally generated. There is a good bit of truth baked into the idea. Scripture says that “each man should carry his own load” (Galatians 6:1) and “if you do not work, then you do not eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). But this phrase, taken in isolation, only tells half of the story. Where did you get your ability to hunt? Somebody fed you back before you knew how to fire a rifle. Who’s kill did you eat back then?

Man is a remarkable creature. We really can do extraordinary things. That is why is quite easy to begin to live by sight rather than by faith. We think we are in a mechanical universe and if we put in the time and effort, then out will pop a precisely equivalent and statistically verifiable reward. 

The truth however is that we live in a world where the LORD gives and takes away. He is good and generous. And at the end of the day, we don’t merit anything. At the end of the day, “What do you have that you did not receive?” Yes, you worked harder than the rest of them. And that wasn’t you, but the grace of God in you. Boast all you would like of that grace. You eat what God killed.

We come to eat at a rich banquet that we did not generate. It is a humbling meal. Delightful and humbling. What have we contributed to this feast? Greed, lust, bitterness, prostitution, abuse, and a host of other sins that made this salvation necessary. 

We go forth to conquer, to rule, work, and exercise dominion. We can do so because God feeds us with bread we did not buy and vines we did not plant. So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ.