Scripture to Memorize
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
Proverbs 31:14–15
Passage to Read
When you sit to dine with a ruler,
note well what is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,
for that food is deceptive.
Proverbs 23:1–3
Dear Lord, I’m so blessed to share all my meals with the King of kings. Thank you for all the good things you provide, including my daily bread. I acknowledge that it’s often a challenge to eat wisely when I dine out at restaurants with family and friends or when I go to special events. I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings by making an issue about food, but at the same time, I want to exercise wisdom.
I’m amazed how strongly worded this proverb is—that I’d be better to put a knife to my throat than give in to gluttony. Help me to view gluttony as the serious sin that it is and to take my eating habits as seriously as you do. I confess that sometimes I do crave the delicacies that are put right in front of me and don’t often enough exercise proper self-control. Instead, I allow myself to be deceived by food that looks good, even though it isn’t good. Holy Spirit, empower me to escape any bondage in my life in the area of food, so that I can glorify God at all times, in every area of my life. Amen.
Personal
The Proverbs 31 woman provided food for her family and portions for her servant girls. Since everyone rose up and called her blessed, I believe it’s safe to assume she fed them the right food in the right portions. Have you ever noticed that overweight parents often have overweight children? It’s not genetics. It’s eating habits! Today we’ll discuss the type of food we choose for our families and ourselves; tomorrow we’ll explore the issue of portion control.
I think it’s interesting that the very first recorded sin involved a woman being tempted by food that looked too good to pass up. I don’t know about you, but I am certainly in no position to judge Eve! I love food that looks good to eat, like donuts, cookies, and cakes. I’m always tempted to indulge my taste buds even though I know these foods will lead me into sin. How? They alter my blood sugar and make me irritable within thirty minutes. Then I get depressed because my clothes don’t fit. I find it fascinating that Adam and Eve both needed new outfits after demonstrating their inability to resist food temptations. Wow! Things haven’t changed that much after all these centuries, have they?
For now, let’s look at “delicacies,” specifically sugar. Now, I love sugary treats as much as anyone. I’ve definitely been known to eat my share of Oreos, especially when someone hurts my feelings. But just because we do it, doesn’t mean it’s wise. Proverbs 25:28 says, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” Imagine in ancient times, two neighboring cities constantly at war with one another. Their first line of defense against enemy attack was the city walls. That’s the reason it was so important that they be strong and fortified, and they had to be guarded at all times with watchmen up on the towers. Now imagine how foolish it would be if one city decided to tear down its own walls, literally making itself defenseless against the enemy. How stupid is that?
Did you know that sugar literally breaks down your immune system? If you don’t exercise self-control in your consumption of sweets, your body is just like an unprotected city. The walls of your defense system are broken down, opening the way for colds and flu, not to mention hypoglycemia, diabetes, and weight gain, which leads to a host of illnesses, including heart disease. Once again, we see that every word in the Bible was written for our benefit, not to spoil our fun. Even the statements in the Bible that appear metaphorical turn out to be literally true.
Consider this:
You’re probably thinking, Good thing I don’t consume that much sugar. You’re probably wrong. The average American adult consumes thirty-two teaspoons of sugar per day. That’s 120 pounds of sugar per year. One can of Coke contains more than eight teaspoons of sugar. Remember, twenty-four teaspoons was enough to just about shut down your entire immune system. And we wonder why we feel sick and tired.
You have an enemy. In fact you have three of them: the world, the flesh, and the devil. The entire world system is your enemy. When you refuse to exercise self-control, you leave yourself wide open to destruction. Self-control is your personal city wall. It’s your first line of defense. Don’t be like a city with broken-down walls. Protect your immune system by limiting your sugar intake. And don’t forget to protect your family’s immune systems by providing them with the right kind of food, too.
Affirmation: I limit my sugar intake, lest I become like a city whose walls are broken down.
Practical
Pray right now, asking the Holy Spirit if you’ve been guilty of the sin of gluttony. Begin to limit your intake of sugar.
Remember: Today is day two of vegetables and water.