Jesus and Gleaning
Could We Feed Clothe and Shelter the World with What We Throw Out!?
Yes — absolutely.
The staggering amount of food, clothing, and housing resources wasted globally could, if managed differently, theoretically meet the basic needs of everyone on Earth.
Here’s a breakdown:
Political will, logistics, economic systems, and cultural attitudes about waste all play massive roles.
Does Jesus care about feeding the hungry clothing the naked and sheltering the homeless?
Yes, very much so.
In fact, caring for the hungry, the poor, and the homeless is central to Jesus' teachings in the Bible.
Here are a few key examples:
According to Jesus, how we treat the poor and vulnerable is a reflection of how we treat Him.
For Jesus, it's not just about charity — it's about justice, love, and true faithfulness.
Yes — absolutely.
The staggering amount of food, clothing, and housing resources wasted globally could, if managed differently, theoretically meet the basic needs of everyone on Earth.
Here’s a breakdown:
- Food:
About one-third of all food produced globally is wasted — around 1.3 billion tons per year. According to the UN, this wasted food would be more than enough to feed the nearly 800 million people who are currently hungry. - Clothing:
The fashion industry massively overproduces. Every year, billions of garments are either destroyed, landfilled, or remain unsold. Many clothes are discarded while still perfectly wearable — enough to clothe millions, especially with better redistribution systems. - Shelter:
In construction and real estate, vast resources are wasted through overbuilding, abandoned properties, and demolitions. For example, there are over 16 million vacant homes in the U.S. ALONE, while millions remain homeless. If these abandoned or empty buildings were repurposed, they could provide shelter for many.
Political will, logistics, economic systems, and cultural attitudes about waste all play massive roles.
Does Jesus care about feeding the hungry clothing the naked and sheltering the homeless?
Yes, very much so.
In fact, caring for the hungry, the poor, and the homeless is central to Jesus' teachings in the Bible.
Here are a few key examples:
- Feeding the Hungry:
- Jesus fed the hungry many times, most famously with the feeding of the 5,000 (Matthew 14:13–21) and the feeding of the 4,000 (Mark 8:1–9).
- He taught His followers to give food to the hungry as a basic act of righteousness.
- Clothing the Naked:
- In Matthew 25:31–46, Jesus says that when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, and visit prisoners, we are doing it for Him.
- Sheltering the Homeless and Caring for the Poor:
- Jesus identified closely with the poor and marginalized.
- He Himself lived a life without stable shelter ("the Son of Man has no place to lay his head" — Matthew 8:20).
- He repeatedly commanded His followers to care for the least among them.
According to Jesus, how we treat the poor and vulnerable is a reflection of how we treat Him.
For Jesus, it's not just about charity — it's about justice, love, and true faithfulness.
