Third horseman- Famine

5When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. 6Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, “Two pounds^a of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (Rev. 6:5-6). 

Thoughts:  The desire for conquest brings war, and war brings famine.  This third horseman brings the plague of famine upon the earth.  The price of bread/wheat has gone up because it is scarce.  The oil and wine are precious because they are at a premium too.
     Today one in nine in our world (805 million) do not have enough food to live a healthy life.  3.1 million children die each year of malnutrition and its related symptoms.  Every three seconds someone dies of hunger.  In the United States one our of three children goes to bed hungry.
     It is a Christian duty to care for the hungry.  Jesus said, "I was hungry and you gave me something to eat... as much as you have done it for the least of these, you have done it for me."
Hunger is a plague that we may not eliminate but we can help alleviate.  The church does not exist solely to help the hungry, but helping the hungry is a part of our mission.  More Christians give to charity than their non-Christian neighbors (Christian are 66% more likely to give of time and money). We are called to give to the needy- not to stave off the Second Coming- but to stave off pain for our neighbor.  

Prayer: Lord, give me eyes to see the hungry and hands to do something about it.