Due to eating an early dinner, shortly before bedtime I became a little
hungry. When that happens, there is, of course, a choice to make concerning
what to eat. The decision was anything but difficult, for I had a craving
for nachos covered with a little shredded cheese and warmed in the microwave....
So ladies, what do you think I fixed myself?? You're right - I gave in
to my craving! What foods do you sometimes crave and give in to? Of course,
this little scene returned to my mind during my devotions as I opened
the Word of God and read Proverbs 23:1-3. I began to see my craving in
a different light - not in the light of hunger, but in the light of God's
Word…
When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before
thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
How can food be deceptive? If we aren't careful, God tells us that food
can easily bring us under its power. It is really a shame to make a god
of the belly! In our main text, the Lord lays out for us a sure way to
prevent that from happening. In fact, we learn much about eating from
these few verses…
1.) When thou
2.) Sittest to eat
3.) With a ruler
4.) Consider diligently
5.) What is before thee
First, in looking at point's one and two, I noticed that whenever we are
faced with eating, the norm is to sit when we eat! This is something I
was very guilty of not doing. We have an island in our kitchen with three
stools where my children seat themselves during breakfast and lunch. I
had the habit of standing up on the other side across from them and nibbling
my food here and there while doing other things, either for them or around
them. With all that moving around, I certainly can't keep track of how
much or what I'm eating. There were many times I couldn't even remember
if I had eaten lunch or not.... So I bought myself an extra stool and
made myself sit down and stay seated during the meal. My children enjoy
this much better, and I'll have to admit, so do I. I have time to both
chew and taste my food and my digestion improved besides! Yes, there is
always something I could be doing, but sitting down at mealtime affords
us the liberty of better controlling our food quality and quantity. A
great deal of unwise and unnecessary eating is done on the run.... If
you would stop to sit every time you eat, you might come to realize some
of those times aren't really necessary. You might just realize you're
simply eating to eat and come to your senses before devouring that whole
bag of chips! Even the process of eating ought to honor our God....
1 Cor. 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God.
Let's talk about point number three next…
3.) With a ruler
What about that ruler you are sitting to eat with? Ladies, do you realize
that though you sit to eat at a table in this world, you are still dining
with the Lord? He is seated at the head of every table! (This certainly
brings our table manners into the picture too!) Yes, no matter where we
are or whom we are eating with, if we are Christians, we are seated at
a royal table and we are to wisely consider the temptations that would
lure us away from that holy table - from glorifying our God. Proper etiquette
for royalty is to be in control in every setting. Would that be you? Have
you added to or subtracted from the holy atmosphere of dining before the
Lord? Ladies, remember who you are and where you are seated; restrain
yourself - don't lose control in the presence of all those tempting selections!
The world lays many dainties before us and they look delicious; they ARE
delicious, amen? If there is shamelessness to your appetite, it should
be curbed with utmost strictness! Be sharply attentive to the way you
enjoy the delicacies and comforts in this life, including food related
pleasures. Who really has control over you - this world, or God?? Christians
are expected by their heavenly Father to watch what goes into their mouth.
Feed yourself with fear - with respect to God's authority over the table!
The road to disaster is lined with the banquet of wicked delights....
Psalm 141:3-4
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline
not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that
work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light..
Let's move on to points number four and five…
4.) Consider diligently
5.) What is before thee
In combining the two of them, we ought always to give careful thought
to what lies before us. There are many ways that this principle can be
applied to our lives. The first thing that comes to my mind that lies
before us is the future. Ladies, are your current eating habits something
that you are going to regret tomorrow?? I think of the old expression,
"A moment on the lips - forever on the hips!" Is what you consume on a
daily basis going to lead to future weight problems and a struggle to
lose it? You'll find the older you get, the harder it is to get weight
off! Don't pave the way for future health problems by falling prey to
an inappropriate portion of the world's delicacies at present. I wonder
how many Christians are dead before God ever intended them to be simply
because they could not restrain themselves in this world… Better consider
your choices conscientiously! Our heavenly Father does not want His children
to be lazy about such important matters. Stop and think about what you
have been eating - look and live! The Bible says in our text today that
a knife to the throat is better than an appetite out of control. The world
is an insincere hostess; don't be overly desirous of her dainties, they
are deceitful meat! When taken to excess, even good things can be destructive.
They might promise you satisfaction and pleasure at the time, in exchange
for problems at a later date…
Proverbs 25:16
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou
be filled therewith, and vomit it.
Philip. 4:5
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Also, in regard to points four and five, we must consider diligently what
is before us in our own cupboards! Common sense should tell you that if
you're weakness is Oreos, don't buy them! If your weakness is Pringles
with dip, don't you dare bring them home from the grocery store.... Your
flesh won't make that decision for you! Therefore, you must purpose in
your heart to purchase only that which will generate wise eating habits
at home. We should be starving to please the Lord....
Isaiah 55:2
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour
for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye
that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Too often, when we are driven by our appetites and cravings, we determine
that even though we have food at home we could prepare, we are just not
"in the mood" for chicken or beef, or whatever grocery items it may be
that we purchased that week and off to the restaurant we go. Often times
we develop more of an appetite for laziness when we decide we are just
not "in the mood" to cook and we'll go out to eat then as well. Ladies,
what we have before us every day is responsibility. Therefore, let's keep
self-control in full view! What are our children learning surrounded with
such casual attitudes toward self-discipline?? They are learning from
their parents to be controlled by the dictates of the flesh and to give
in to their cravings and appetites! While you are taking into consideration
that meal, think about your example before your children.
In closing, let's leave with the understanding that the quality of our
lives is greatly affected by what we eat - both spiritually and physically!
Don't be deceived by worldly dainties, for whatsoever a man sows, that
shall he also reap.... In what way can you change your behavior to honor
God with your eating habits? Let's strive to be serious about what goes
into our mouths, and glorify God in our bodies and our spirits, which
are His.
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
