We are living in a fast-food generation wherein the temptation to indulge in diverse flavors of food has become almost irresistible. Everywhere we go we see restaurants, bakeries, pizzerias and dessert shops—all tempting us to gobble food or snacks and feel good in the stomach.
Encircled by various food products enticing us, don’t you think fasting has become a neglected discipline of our time? We are used to feasts, not to fasting. We love parties, not prayer meetings. We are lovers of food, pampering our stomachs with all kinds of delicacies. How we hate to see our stomachs starve!
Nevertheless, the Old Testament has so much to say about the importance of fasting (Joel 2:15; Ezra 8:21-23; Jon. 3:5). Although there is no direct command to fast in the New Testament, fasting was practiced and exemplified by Jesus and the apostles (Matt. 4:2; Acts 13:2). The Lord even gave instructions about how to fast and assumed that His disciples would fast after His ascension to heaven (Matt. 6:16-18; 9:15). Let us, therefore, cultivate the discipline of fasting for spiritual purposes [repentance, prayer and meditation], bringing glory to God. It is said that occasional fasting is even good for physical health. In this food-indulgent age, let us learn to fast and master our appetites, just as Paul who said, "Everything is permissible for me"-- but I will not be mastered by anything (1 Cor. 6:12).
William Bramwell, a Wesleyan preacher, wrote in 1809 that the reason many do not live in the power of their salvation is because ‘there is too much sleep, too much meat and drink, too little fasting and self-denial, too much taking part in the world ... and too little self-examination and prayer.’
7. Eat but do not spend money lavishly on food.
We work to earn and one of our major expenses is food. Food is indispensable to our survival, not to mention something that we greatly relish. But how much money is spent on food, especially more than what is required! The more we earn money, the more the temptation to spend more on food, isn’t it? Our generation is known for its lavish lifestyle and luxurious food.
True, God has given us stomach to nourish our body but He has also given us mind to feed our stomach wisely. Don't be crazy for food, for God will put an end to both food and stomach (1 Cor. 6:13).Just think, is it necessary to spend money plentifully on food which is tasty only as long as it is in the mouth! Of course, it is fine at times to spend generously on food and give your body a good treat, but beware of spending too much money on food frequently.
As God’s people, we should learn to spend money wisely and be good stewards of His resources. Having food frequently at home rather than in restaurants, eating less meat and avoiding impulsive grocery shopping would save more money and can be used for better purposes.
As I am a lover of food, it is a hard discipline for me to control my expense on what I eat. However, I have learned that I cannot be a faithful steward of God’s resources if I am not careful, moderate and wise in how I spend money on food. Let us, then, glorify God by the way we spend money on what we eat.
8. Eat but do not waste food.
I remember how my dad used to get upset when his children wasted food. My dad was a bus driver and he often told us, “We work hard to earn money to buy food. Don’t waste it.” Now my children also know that wasting food does not bring delight to their father.
After the Lord Jesus fed thousands of people by multiplying five small barley loaves and two small fish, do you know what He said to His disciples? "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted" (Jn. 6:12). The Lord ensured that His resources ought not to be wasted.Look at parties, restaurants, conferences and even homes—how much food is wasted! According to a study, it is said that roughly one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, which amounts to about 1.3 billion tons per year.
When millions of people are starving without food, how can we waste so much food on the dining tables? Will the Lord be pleased with such casual attitude towards food which He provides for our nourishment? (Ps. 145:15) How can we waste food when we thank God for what He provided?
In order to prevent wasting food, when we cook food at home, let us prepare only what is necessary. When we go to parties or functions, let us serve ourselves with sufficient food. When we go to restaurants, let us not order more than what is required.
And if food is unavoidably left, we don't have to overstuff our belly to jeopardize our health; but is it not a good idea to pack it and give it to someone on the streets or share it with someone else? Let us be faithful stewards of God’s resources and bring glory to His Name.
9. Eat but also share food.
The Holy Scripture says that God “richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Tim. 6:17). However, this doesn’t mean that we can just stay focused on personal enjoyment. In the immediate verse, it has been exhorted to be wise in the way we spend money, particularly with an attitude to be generous toward others (6:18).
God does not want us to be concerned just about feeding our own bellies but also to think about those who require our help. Do we give thought to God’s concern?
There are so many orphans, needy folks and servants of God in the mission field who need our help. And if we are not in a situation to offer food directly, we may contribute money to buy food and in this way share what God has provided for us.
Remember, sometimes God blesses us richly to test our heart—whether we be generous or give ourselves to self-indulgence. O, God is glorified when we generously share what He has provided for us! Is it not written, “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased”? (Heb. 13:16).
10. Eat but do not neglect to eat spiritual food.
Food is necessary for physical sustenance, but food is not everything we need to live. The Lord Jesus said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (Jn. 6:27). Yes, we need Jesus more than anything else, for He is the bread of life through whom we live now and forevermore (Jn. 6:35). Do we feast on Him through daily fellowship?
Job confessed, “I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12). Do we love God’s word more than our daily food? If so, are we feeding our souls with God’s word continuously, sufficiently and obediently, just as we are feeding our bodies regularly with food?
How many complain today, “I have no time to meditate on God’s word”, but seldom to do we find them saying, “I have no time to eat food.” Is the real problem with time or with priorities and discipline?
It seems we have not yet come to the utter realization that we cannot live without continuously feeding our souls with God’s word. We are in deception that material things are all that we need. Is there any wonder why so many of our lives are miserably miserable?
Are we physically nourished but spiritually malnourished? Do we hear the cry of our soul for the word of God? Let us not let our soul starve. Feed it regularly with the word of God and stay healthy physically and spiritually. O, God takes delight and is glorified in a person who gives priority to His word by meditating on it and living accordingly!
Final Words
I have discussed about food not in a sense which food is pure and impure or which food is spiritual and unspiritual. To those who make food in itself as a spiritual issue, Paul wrote, “But food does not bring us near to God; we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do” (1 Cor. 8:8).
I have indeed shared about our attitude towards food in regard to that which is healthy and unhealthy, how to discipline our appetites and how faithful stewards we ought to be with God’s providence in our lives. And all these to be done with an attitude to glorify the Name of God. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31) [Click here to go to Part 1 of this article] |
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cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) stephen@tents-india.org
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