Throughout
my life I have used food to comfort me when I’m upset, anxious, etc. My lack of
self-control over food has wreaked havoc with my weight but the real problem,
as a Christian, is much bigger.
I have
abused my body with poor food choices and lack of exercise and that is sin
because of the harm it has caused my physical body—I am not my own, I’ve been
bought with a price and therefore I am a temple of the Holy Spirit who lives
within me, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. But most important is the fact that anything
we choose over God is sin, Exodus 20:3. Anytime we choose to replace God with
something else or someone else we are elevating that thing or person to
idol-status in our lives.
In my case,
I have sought comfort and solace in food instead of seeking comfort and solace
in the Lord. The truth is a harsh one for me but through the power of the Holy
Spirit, the problem can be conquered, Romans 8:37. (Recommended Reading: “Made
to Crave; Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food,” Lysa Terkeurst,
Zondervan, 2010)
The Apostle
Paul wrote of glorifying God in both body and spirit in 1 Corinthians 6:12-13,
HCSB, when he said, “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is
helpful. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under
the control of anything. “Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods,” but
God will do away with both of them.
“Everything
is permissible for me,” and “foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods”
were apparently popular notions of the day. Paul corrects this thinking by
adding that just because things are permitted does not mean they are beneficial
and further anything that controls you is not helpful—the word “addiction”
should leap to your mind. Paul also states that in the case of food and the
stomach, both will be done away with (in the glorified body).
When I
recognized I was putting food before God—I was horrified. I was disgusted by
the realization of the preeminence I had given food in my life. The solution:
confession and repentance—a turning away from sin and turning to the true One;
the only One that can give true comfort and true peace.
God Bless!
