Eating for the Glory of God [Part 2]

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6. Eat but discipline yourself to fast.

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).

Christian life is not about storing things for personal enjoyment but sharing things for the joy of others and ourselves. In fact, our joy is incomplete unless we channel God’s blessings to others.

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?

We also need God’s word to live. The Lord Jesus declared, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Do we realize how spiritually impoverished we are, living in great need to feed our souls with God’s word, just as we feed our frail bodies with food?

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] | 2 of 2

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Enquiries:

cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) stephen@tents-india.org

Eating for the Glory of God [Part 1]

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Does the food we eat bring glory to God? This is something strange to many of us. We know that worship, prayer, word and good works glorify God, but how come what we eat bring glory to God?

The food we eat is certainly an issue that brings glory to God. Did not Paul write, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God?” (1Cor. 10:31) It is obvious from this Scripture that the food we eat can either bring glory to God or it can become an obstacle to God’s glory.

How does this happen?

The context wherein Paul discusses is about the food offered to idols. This was bought in the market or served in somebody’s house. And in the Corinthian church, some saw it as an abomination to eat while some viewed it as nothing more than normal.

So, Paul counsels the knowledgeable ones not to eat such food that becomes a stumbling block to the weak brothers in Christ. In this way, they glorify God.

Now the problem confronted by the Corinthian church about eating food sacrificed to idols may not be an issue in many cultures today. However, keeping the context in mind, we can generally apply the principle in other aspects too. The following are some ways, I believe, we can eat food for the glory of God.

1. Eat but do not fight over food. 

Food is a delightful thing to eat, but is it not grieving to the Spirit of God to see us fight for the sake of food?

The tendency to fight over food is not uncommon particularly at homes. How many get frustrated because the food which is prepared is something we dislike? How many grumble over the taste of food?

And how many lose their temper when the food is not prepared on time? How many couples get into arguments because of their differences in the methods of preparing food?

Further, when we attend weddings or parties or meetings, how is our conduct when it comes to food? What about reacting with an unchristian spirit towards stewards in restaurants because of food?

Does such reaction, whether at home or outside, bring glory to God?

Treasure these words, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).

2. Eat but eat the right quality of food.

A Christian believes that his or her body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, many of us resist smoking, drinking and drug use because it ruins the body. But don’t we understand that even the kind of food we eat either builds or destroys the health of our body?

We generally eat by choosing food based on how it evokes the taste buds of the tongue, not based on how it contributes to our health. We forget that we eat for living, not for tasting.

It is said that the intake of surplus fatty and oily food, deep fried items, sweets, salt, soft drinks and fast foods is considered to be hazardous to one’s health.

Yet, so many are enslaved by such unhealthy food habits for the sake of taste and ultimately ruin the healthy condition of their body, thereby visiting hospitals and desperately praying to God for healing.

Do you know, many folks are dying today because of unhealthy eating habits, just like those who die because of blatant addictions like smoking, boozing and drugs?

Take note of this—unhealthy eating habits do not bring glory to God, just like smoking, drinking and drug use. Eat the right kind of food, stay healthy and glorify God with your body.

Note: Here is a simple DIET proposed by World Health Organization [WHO].

3. Eat but eat the right quantity of food.

God had completely forbidden the evil things and had put limits to the use of good things. But to breach the limited use of any good thing is nothing but to do evil. And gluttony is a perfect example of such abuse.

Gluttony is defined as an overconsumption of food. It is one such habit which many people ignore as being sinful in the eyes of God.

Nevertheless, according to the Holy Scripture, gluttony is a sin, an idolization of food. It is also a sign of lack of self-control and is no better than drunkenness (Pro. 23:2; 20-21; 28:7).

What are the sad results of gluttony? It causes obesity and multiple health disorders, perhaps even accelerating laziness and lust.

Besides, eating the right quantity of food is not only a caution to those given to gluttony but even to those who eat too little. Eating too little is also dangerous to health. It causes anemia and extreme weight loss, decreases metabolism and produces numerous health problems.

Whether overeating or eating too little—both can damage the body. Remember that God has created our stomach with limited capacity to fill. So do not overfill it or let it starve. Eat the right quantity of food, keep yourself healthy and bring glory to God.

4. Eat but work.

What is the purpose of eating? It is to procure energy. What is the purpose of energy? It is to work.

God created man as a working being. Before the fall, God created all kinds of trees in the Garden of Eden and put man to work it and take care of it. (Gen. 2:15) In the Mosaic Law, He decreed that a man must work six days and take rest on the seventh day. (Exo. 20:9)

So God created food and the system of eating and digestion as a means to generate energy in the body to work.

Anyone who eats but does not work desecrates the sacred purpose of the existence of food. He is a slave to laziness and idleness. Such a person—whom neither the church nor the society respects—sins against the Lord and does not bring glory to His Name.

Of course, there are exceptions for not working due to physical disability (like paralysis), serious illness and dire unemployment in a country.

However, there is a general rule given in the Holy Scripture, "If a man will not work, he shall not eat" (2Thess. 3:10). Why this rule? Because a man eats to work and he who does not work should not eat.

Therefore, eat and labor, bringing glory to the Name of God.

5. Eat but do physical exercise.

According to World Health Organization, physical inactivity (lack of physical activity) has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality (6% of deaths globally). Moreover, physical inactivity is estimated to be the main cause for approximately 21–25% of breast and colon cancers, 27% of diabetes and approximately 30% of ischaemic heart disease burden.

Much of the work for many people, particularly in urban places, is not related to physical labor but to mental work. So though we work, because of lack of physical activity, excessive sitting and sedentary lifestyle, many are subjecting themselves to health hazards.

Considering health risks resulting from physical inactivity, there is a great emphasis these days on the necessity of physical exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, tennis…etc are some of the recommended exercises for the body.

I am apprehensive about Yoga but gym with aerobics is a good thing to consider. I have seen tremendous rejuvenation in my body since my enrollment in a local gym.

We are aware that spiritual disciplines have eternal value, but the Holy Bible does not deny the aspect of physical training which is of some value (1Tim. 4:8).

Our body is a gift from God and healthy food plays a vital role in its nourishment and physical exercise in its building. Eat well, therefore, and do not neglect to take care of your body and give the exercise that it deserves and live mightily for the glory of God.

Note: We don't have to become health or fitness freaks or too legalistic about the food we eat, but we can moderately be concerned about the welfare of our body, which we believe to be God's temple and tool to live for His glory. And living in this way may not guarantee perfect health, but we can do our best by using God-given wisdom in disciplining our diet and body, and the rest we can trust in the Lord for His gracious protection. [Click here to go to Part 2 of this article...] |  1 of 2

_______________________________

Enquiries:

cstephendavid@gmail.com (or) stephen@tents-india.org