“Food will not bring us close to God.”

1 Corinthians 8:8a

If there was a bar you could eat that would satisfy all your nutritional needs, would you give up food? Just one bar a day that would leave you comfortably full and keep your body running in good condition.

It’s a tempting notion. No more cooking or spending money eating out. No more overeating or undereating. No more temptation or indulging. Food would essentially be out of the picture.

Would you do it? I’ve thought about this before, and I vacillate between yes and no. I’d lose weight, and probably learn to not be so obsessed with food. But on the other hand…I LOVE FOOD! I love the variety. I love the experience of eating with friends. I love chili in the fall, and watermelon in the summer.

Food is a big part of my life. Maybe too big.

You know what I wish? I wish God hadn’t made our taste buds so darn effective. If food were more bland, perhaps I wouldn’t crave it so much. I wish french fries didn’t taste so good. I wish apples were more addictive. I wish I had a better relationship with food.

In 1 Corinthians, Paul admonishes us not to sacrifice food to idols. I think food itself can be an idol. It can become a reason for living rather than a means to keep us alive. Paul reminds us that we can’t get to God through our stomachs.

So is that it? Should we all pick up a case of Super Nutri-bars once a week and call it good? Well, there’s a problem with that.

God made food. And called food good. Food is good for us, but it’s also to be savored and appreciated. Food is by its nature a form of pleasure. One of the ways we celebrate life is around the table. Jesus fed 5000 people at one sitting–a deluxe fish dinner no less. And when we take the bread and the cup at communion, we are sharing in the joy of Christ’s love for us.

Food can’t get us to God, but it’s God’s gift to us. We should accept it, and appreciate it, and not take it for granted. We should also use it wisely, and carefully, and purposefully.

I need to wrap this up. It’s past my lunch time and my tummy is rumbling. Whatever I choose to eat, I’m going to thank God for it, for the nourishment of my body. I’m going to try not to abuse this wonderful gift I’ve been given.

And I’m going to count my blessings,

as much as my calories.

Have a great week,

Mitch