Eating to glorify God

Loving creativity has me on the Internet often looking for amazing ideas that others post in art, decor, quilts, and photography. With those searches, food menus and ideas for dieting also pop up. Many of them forbid certain foods saying they are not healthy. While this is true of what could be called ‘man-made junk’ it is not true of what is often called ‘real food’ because what might come from my garden is even held suspect by some ‘experts’ in the industry.

I never connected these no-no’s in food with false teachers until this morning when I read this:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:1–5)

Actually, I have wondered about fish on Friday, and now wonder about no meat at all, or no dairy, or no whatever, and who gives that advice and where did those ideas come from. Allergies may be a factor, but doing some research is always a good idea.

For instance, the OT tells of Daniel being captured by Israel’s enemies and his refusal to eat the rich food and wine as the Babylonian king ate. His captors decided to test him with only vegetables and water for ten days. After that time, he was “better in appearance and fatter in flesh” than those who ate the king’s food. Some use this as reason to be vegetarians, however it seems more about the quality of the food than its type. A walk through a grocery store picking up only what would be available back then for Daniel would mean skipping canned, frozen and processed food, and eating fresh only.

Is that even possible? Here in the north, many fresh items are trucked from the south or not available. However, locally grown greenhouse veggies are becoming more available. I want to eat real food and also appreciate this promise from Jesus:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31–33)

The key to eating right has a spiritual component. Besides wanting to eat right, Jesus wants me to first seek how to live a righteous life. Then He will make sure that good food, created by Him, will always be available — and I will have enough clothing to wear. It is about making Him the priority of life and not worrying about the basics.

I know people who refuse to eat any vegetables. One calls them ‘rabbit food.’ Another will not eat anything that is ‘mushy’ but fills up on salty and sugary snacks. Obesity, diabetes, and other food-related problems are on the increase. While some think this stems from ignorance about food, or other reasons, who would point a finger at a failure to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness combined with the impetus to run our own lives? Or even connect this problem with a propensity to believe everything we hear that fits our ‘I wants’ — even diet plans that forbid much of the food we didn’t like anyway? Or didn’t want to prepare or cook? One commercial even tells me to take a pill instead of eating broccoli!

PRAY: Jesus, I can crave cookies and chips and all sorts of stuff that are not good for me. You care about my health and I am well aware that I need Your Spirit to enable me to pay attention to, and obey, what You say about all things, even food. So, whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, may I do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31) You created me and You know what is best for me!