Monday, March 29, 2010

Biblical truths about Food

According to 1 Corinthians 10:31, we are supposed to eat and drink all for the glory of God. Looking deeper in our way of eating and how we perceive food in our society today, leaves a lot to be desired. People say that a hungry man is an angry man. Well, that is a worldly saying meant to satisfy the desires of the flesh, but a spiritual man is supposed to exercise control.


Overeating
 
Philippians 3:17-19
17. Brethren, be ye imitators together of me, and mark them that so walk even as ye have us for an ensample.
18. For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19. whose end is perdition, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares

1 Corinthians 6:13  Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

Genesis 25:31-34

31.  And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32.  And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33.  And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34.  Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

When we make the stomach and money our God, we worship the god of the stomach and the god of money, instead of the Almighty God who graciously gives us food and wealth. We are supposed to thank Him for the food. Many advertisements are usually targeted on the belly; food has continued to be made sweet in the last days.
 
Stress for good life and good food have pushed people to do things they ought not do. Drunkenness and smoking is on the increase. Although people are being warned of the medical implications, they still continue indulging. Tobacco and breweries companies all over the world continue to thrive and report high returns compared to other companies like never before. These companies will never go down unless people get delivered.
 
Food businesses will never go down because people have turned into overeaters and many of us eat the so called fast foods, which do more harm to our bodies than good.
 
People even fight over food. The reason for the evils in the world revolves around the belly. Civil wars, post-election skirmishes, country fighting against another, family members fighting against another, even fights in churches are all as a result of people trying to gain control, power and to guard their interests.
 
Overeating has been attributed to most diseases e.g. diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, chronic constipation (clogging of disposal system), stokes, gallstones, high blood pressure, high cholesterol  etc. Obesity causes breathing problems, increased sweating and backache and low life expectancy; the list is endless. Stop overeating.

A man of God should be able to withstand hunger in order to give oneself to prayer and fasting, which should be done in a consistent manner. This calls for control and dedication in order to get spiritual nourishment during this time. Esau sold and despised his birthright for one day’s meal. If Esau could not withstand going without food for one day, then is is evident that he could not even fast for one day.

There are so many Esaus out there, who despise their spiritual birthright and sell it to the devil in exchange of seasonal indulgences and rewards. Most of these indulgences includes food. Jacob knew the blessings that came with a birthright and he knew what he was actually asking for. Christians should also know the blessings that come by being called sons of God, heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ, because if they don’t , Satan knows it and he is looking out to devour them of their birthright and the blessings attached to it.

Eating the Wrong Food

Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Do not eat food that does not satisfy because it is not helpful to the body. Food like chewing gum, marijuana don't help. Such foods only keeps one  chewing, and sleepless because sleep senses are inactive to keep one from being choked. Baby pacifiers spoils the child's growth because all senses are waiting for the child to swallow something because the child is chewing. It affects the senses

Daniel 1:8  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Daniel 1:12  Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.

Daniel decided to eat only pulse and water, because God had given him spiritual understanding of how the food we eat has spiritual implications in our lives as Christians. Daniel also understood that it was not godly to indulge in wine and so stayed away from the king’s wine. We should only eat wholesome food for we will have to account to every deed to God on judgement day. Is food your God or is God your food? If your God is your food, then you have to be more concerned about your spiritual food more that anything else. Eat only to get energy

I have personally experienced constipation when I eat a lot of meat. I now understand why Daniel opted for pulse and water; the reason was so that his system could be unblocked, cleansed and replenished of the necessary minerals. Water helps in digestion whereas meat hinders smooth digestion.



Eating at the Wrong Time

Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

16. Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17. Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!


According to Ecclesiastes, young  men are not supposed to be kings, kings should be mature who are able to control their eating. Eating in the morning is not good. Breakfast means breaking the fast and eating low calorie food in the morning gives the stomach room to break from all night fast. On the contrary, some believe that eating heavy breakfast is good, but biblically, it is not.


Eat at the right time and do not eat because of drunkenness and overeating, but because you need to replenish energy. For lunch, eat more food because you are active and so the metabolism rate is high. Eating a lot of food for dinner causes excess fat to accumulate on your belly and your back because when sleeping you are inactive. Many people who are spending a lot of money trying to lose weight should embrace the Word of God and practise the ways of the nobles. There are so many expensive products in the market claiming to flatten the belly for those who have big tummies but the only lasting solution is God’s way.

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