How many mindless “food moments” do you have in a typical 24 hours? Crunching the endless supply of tortilla chips at a Mexican restaurant; getting a quick bite of energy from the constant supply of snacks in your office; indulging in a celebratory all-you-can-eat meal to get your money’s worth; munching a late night snack to destress from the day; searching your pantry for some dark chocolate to help quiet your anxieties?
Every mindless food choice we make actually reveals deeply held beliefs in our hearts. Many popular weight loss companies have caught onto this and aim to help with eating issues by encouraging clients to slow down, think carefully about what they eat, and consider how it contributes to their overall health.
As Christians who desire to live intentionally for God’s glory, we especially must slow down, evaluate our deeply held beliefs around food, and ask, “what do all these food choices have to do with the glory of God?” The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:31, implores us to recognize this connection, he writes, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” When we start to honestly evaluate our hearts in relation to food, we quickly realize that all have misguided beliefs and behaviors that distance us from experiencing God’s love in his gift of food. How often do you see food, not just a stewardship of your health, but as a gift from God that moves us to worship? Sadly, there are many subtle lies that can derail our worship and enjoyment of God in his gift of food. Let’s briefly consider four lies that hinder our ability to eat for the glory of God.
1. My eating determines my acceptance.
Have you ever found yourself overeating or undereating as a means to prove your masculinity, femininity, or worth to others? Society often attaches notions of strength, beauty, and control to our food choices, leading us down a path that veers away from the simple act of enjoying God’s provision.
The pervasive influence of fitness and beauty culture often replaces one idol with another. This can create a dangerous pendulum swing of running to fitness to pursue health, beauty, and acceptance before others and then running toward food to pursue comfort, peace, and joy.
But as shown in Eph 6:12, the battle is always for our hearts. If we can slowly see both food and fitness as gifts to enjoy for God’s glory, then we won’t fall into the trap of seeking either one as a means of garnishing acceptance from others. It’s crucial to recognize that food is not just about appearance but about nourishing our bodies for God’s glory (Eph 5:29-30). Our value is never determined by how others perceive us but by how God sees us and what he has said about us (1Sam 16:7).
2. Food provides the only consistent comfort.
Food can provide some level of comfort in our lives, yet receiving that blessing can tempt us to believe that food is a source of peace. Our hearts see food as a refuge that we can easily run to amid life’s storms and we know that certain snacks will not disappoint. Every other help could feel unreliable, but food can be seen as the one thing we can depend on for tangible and immediate pleasure.
When life feels overwhelming, it can feel like choosing what you will eat is the only choice you have left and you want it to be a choice that brings a moment of comfort or relief. In this sense, overeating or undereating can be a type of self-harm if its intent is to force your body to feel a certain way or to numb certain feelings. True relief is the ability to worship Christ in any circumstance because of the hope the gospel provides (Philippians 4:12).
As Christians we know that Christ is our ultimate comfort (2 Thess 2:16), so we can embrace the discomforts of life and trust that amid those challenges, we will learn to trust our God and love like Christ. Once we understand that Christ is our comfort and that the troubles of life are often the most vital context for spiritual growth, we can see food as a gift that God gives to provide what is best for us. We must never reduce food to just comfort and never consider it an escape to avoid hardship or to heal from such moments.
3. Honoring tradition determines how I eat.
How have the past generations of your family approached food? Have you heard stories of soup kitchens and bread lines? Often the fears of previous generations around food scarcity and malnourishment can influence our eating habits. Our eating habits can be deeply rooted in honoring or obeying our parents. Culturally based portion sizes can warp our perception of food and what amount is acceptable. Whatever portions your culture or your family tradition passed down to you, it’s essential to evaluate the way we eat and the quantities we consume, recognizing that all our traditions must clearly pursue the glory of God.
For example, the concept of “finishing your plate” was popular in the South where I grew up. But that value does not always align with wise stewardship of our health. Even in Scripture there were left-overs when Jesus fed the multitudes (John 6:12). Instead, we should ask ourselves, “How do I feel as I eat slowly? If I’ve eaten an appropriate amount, should I compost the rest of this meal?”
Additionally, carrying a fear of food scarcity could lead us to interpret surprise goodies at the office, deals on special cuts of meat, sales on your favorite snack, and unexpected offerings from friends as irresistible because you don’t know if you’ll have the opportunity again. Resisting these cultural values and F.O.M.O. requires intentional humility about our eating habits and a commitment to rest in God’s provision for us in Christ. The gospel teaches us that the abundant life is not tied to wealth or even access to food, but to God’s promise to care for us (Phil 4:19).
4. Food is always available and easy.
Because of the easy accessibility many American communities have to food, there can be a growing prideful entitlement rather than a humble appreciation for God’s kindness in providing each meal. There aren’t many (if any) modern worship songs that capture the sentiment in Psalm 104:14-15, “You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.”
Modern society’s detachment from the hard work and understanding of agriculture has changed how we perceive food. Giving thanks for the food God provides is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and remember God’s provision. Food is an undeserved grace that involves creation working together. The sun, the rain, the ground, and many caring hands along the way all work together for every meal we enjoy. If you have the opportunity, consider spending a day on a farm to reflect on the labor and care involved in producing the sustenance we often take for granted. Food is a precious gift that always tells a story of God’s kindness in its growth and cultivation.
I hope you can see that God designed food to be a pathway of grace to help us savor his love and respond with thankful worship. One practical way to grow in your thankfulness to God for this wonderful gift is through planning, shopping, and cooking. These activities take time and can feel like a burden, but they also offer the opportunity to slow down and give thanks to God for what he has provided and to praise him for all the people whose care made it possible to have another meal. Especially, if you can cook for others (maybe friends or people in your small group) it will give you the chance to consider others so that food really moves from a self-oriented practice to an others-oriented ministry.
The call to eat and drink for the glory of God is a profound invitation to align every aspect of our lives, no matter how mundane, with the worship of our Creator. As we recognize that our battle is never against any of God’s gifts, we can better engage what our hearts believe about the gifts God gives and grow in our thanksgiving and trust in our Father as the wise giver. By recognizing and challenging these food myths with Scripture, we can cultivate a more intentional and God-honoring relationship with the meals He graciously provides. Let us strive to see the love of our Father in every bite, sip, and meal, responding with hearts full of thankful worship (1 Tim 4:4).
Photo Credit: GR Stocks