Poor Jack. I love him dearly and we spend lots of time together, but his needs aren’t always first on my list. Other more pressing concerns, human concerns, often push him back in the order, and I still feel badly about what happened yesterday.

This morning, after our first walk, I went to Jack’s supply of Kibbles ‘n Bits to retrieve his breakfast. During the last few years we’d been over-feeding him by a third, so he’s been on a food austerity program for several weeks. At feeding time I use the plastic container the vet gave us to measure out his meal portions exactly.

The best way to remember what he’s eaten and what he hasn’t (since we give him half in the morning and half at night), is to line up containers for several days, fill them, and serve him from that line-up. But this morning when I went to grab a full container to give him his first half, the second half was still there. I’d forgotten to feed him last night.

That’s an egregious error, because I absolutely never forget to feed myself. Hunger pangs are my go-ahead for a fill-up, and I love it when I can eat some more. But of course Jack does, too. When I feed him, he always hunkers down immediately and polishes it right off. He appreciates each bite of his Kibbles ‘n Bits and would willingly eat 3 or 4 times the vet’s suggested amount, given the chance.

Scripture has a lot to say about good eating, that man doesn’t live by bread alone but also needs the words of God. That’s interesting, considering that the majority of people have no interest in feeding on the Bible. I suppose the result is spiritual malnourishment, though they may not know it.

Hunger is a remarkable thing. The stomach growls for food when empty, making more and more noise until we respond with a meal. But if deprived of food completely, eventually it quits asking. Hunger pangs disappear about 3 days after the last food, and the body goes into starvation mode. “Remain quiet. Don’t waste an ounce of energy.”

If we choose not to “eat” Scripture, even when we feel it pulling us like a hunger pang, eventually that prompting stops. We don’t crave the Word anymore and don’t even miss it.

God never stops inviting us to the table, though: “Just taste it!” he says. “You’ll see. It’s good!” (Psalm 34:8) And he means good for more than just building bodies in the way that dog food sustains Jack. The best advantage of spiritual food is that it builds our relationship with the Lord. And unlike store-bought groceries, his nourishment is free.

In reality, though, it’s priceless.

Jesus said, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)