Food and Healthy Eating – A heavenly perspective

1 Corinthians 6:12,13 - All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.  Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

• This passage is mostly about morality but we certainly should not live for food. Food and things should not be given an undue place in the life of the believer. Don't live as if the greatest thing in life is to gratify your appetites.  We can technically stay alive for quite some time eating unhealthy foods but these things inevitably become our master and that doesn’t lead to a good ending.

1 Corinthians 9:27 - I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

• Having a strong and healthy body is a great benefit to us and to God’s Kingdom. When we are well we can do well.  When we eat like a trashcan we produce trash.  This enables us to be strong and to live out God’s calling upon our lives.

2 Corinthians 7:1 - Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

• Large portions and unhealthy foods can certainly defile our bodies. It leaves us sluggish, lazy and diseased.  Also, our attitudes, mindsets and all the worldly things we pile into our inner man can defile our spirits.

Daniel 1:8,15 - But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.  And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies.

• Practice and learn to look beyond the next bite. The taste and enjoyment of food is fleeting.  It is here then it is gone like a vapor.  Regret is immensely heavier / weightier than the brief enjoyment that comes from making unhealthy food choices.

Genesis 1:29,30 -  Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and to every animal of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to everything that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so.

• By God’s design, we have an appetite that makes us aware of the need for nourishment. It reminds us that we need His provision.  He has given us foods that are rich in nutrition so we should honor His desire for us to consume healthy foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds etc….)

John 6:27 - Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."

• Don’t become preoccupied or overly focused on the outwardly things. “What should I eat? What shouldn’t I eat?”  Living in this way will absorb our energy which diminishes our capacity to seek Him, to abide in Him, to live for what is eternal.

John 6:35 - And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

• There are longings, desires, cravings in our life that only Jesus can fill. We often try to fill these areas with material things, with unhealthy food.  This is not what He wants for us and holds us back from good health, both physically, spiritually and mentally.

3 John 1:2 - Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth

• Walking out our lives with the truth of God’s word and ways in us is primary. When we live in this way, we will make choices that lead to better overall health.

1 Timothy 4:4,5 - For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

• Studies have shown that feeling thankful can improve sleep, mood and immunity. Gratitude can decrease depression, anxiety, difficulties with chronic pain and risk of disease. If this statement is true in the natural, just think how living in thankfulness will benefit us overall and help us to make better choices.  Gratitude shines light into our minds, increases our joy and causes us to be fulfilled.  What a wonderful gift from our Maker!