Food and work are intimately connected. Food gives us the energy to work, and by working we can provide food for ourselves and our family. It makes perfect sense that food corresponds to goodness or love in our hearts that motivates us to serve our neighbor.
To hunger is to eagerly desire what is good. (Secrets of Heaven 4958)
Regarded in itself good is nothing else than use. (Secrets of Heaven 4926)
Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.” (John 4:34)
When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. (Psalm 128:2)
One shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:3, 4; Luke 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3)
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give you. (John 6:27)
‘Food’ means heavenly goodness, because the angels’ food is nothing but the good intentions of love and of kindness, which not only make them live, but also refresh them. It is especially these good intentions in act, or the practice of them…. These things nourish a person’s spirit, while material food nourishes his body. (Secrets of Heaven 5147:3)
Spiritual food is everything that is useful, and everything that leads to usefulness. (Secrets of Heaven 5293)
Latent in the affection of every angel’s will is a certain inner tendency which draws the mind to accomplish something. By accomplishment the mind finds peace and satisfaction. This satisfaction and peace produce a state of mind open to of a love of useful service from the Lord. Receiving this love brings heavenly happiness…. Heavenly food in its essence is nothing else than love, wisdom and useful service combined, that is, useful service accomplished through wisdom out of love. Consequently in heaven everyone is given food for the body in accordance with the useful service he performs—magnificent food in the case of those engaged in outstanding service, modest food but of excellent flavor and taste in the case of those in an intermediate degree of useful service, and humble food in the case of those in humble service, while the lazy receive none. (Married Love 6.6)
The use itself which a person loves is what gives direction to his life and marks him off from others, an evil use making him like one in hell and a good use like one in heaven. It is not indeed the use itself that does so but the love behind it, for everyone’s life is inherent in his love. (Secrets of Heaven 4459.7)