I love to bake. In fact, it is one of my favorite hobbies. Nothing is better than whipping up my family’s favorite desserts and delivering those treats to them on their birthdays or for a weekday surprise. But there are great risks when enjoying baking as a pastime. If you aren’t careful, you might start enjoying the taste of sugar more than you intended … or need.
I decided to bake my husband’s favorite cookie a few weeks ago. After they were finished, I promptly placed them in our cookie jar and went to do some household chores. Throughout the day and the following week, I found myself revisiting that jar (as well as our pantry) to “treat myself” periodically. This typically occurred when I thought I deserved a reward for accomplishing something or needed something sweet as a reprieve from stressful situations that kept coming my way. Before long, I noticed that the big batch I had baked with love shrunk to crumbs.
In the days following, I sat down to do my Bible reading. And lo and behold, it happened to be Genesis 25.
And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. (Genesis 25:30-33)
Of course, it had to be a passage about eating!
I used to roll my eyes at this story. How could a grown man sell his birthright for the sake of stew? I mean, come on! But the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve understood how easy it is to let the love of food dictate important choices we may make.
In this story, all Esau wanted was something to eat. He had a long day working in the field. Something had probably not gone his way, and all he wanted at that moment was something to fill his empty stomach. To satisfy his growling belly, he sold his birthright to his brother, which I can only imagine he regretted immensely in the days, weeks, and years that followed his decision.
If that was not enough, a quick word search on Bible Gateway’s site showed that the ESV translation uses the words food (293 times), drink (357 times), and meal (7 times). At a minimum, that is a whopping 657 passages that mention something related to eating.
Food is essential, no doubt about it. But it can also negatively impact our earthly future and our relationship with the Lord if we are not careful.
Time and again throughout Scripture, we’re shown instances where food has led to good and bad decisions. Esau’s is just one example. Instead of holding fast, he quickly sold his inheritance as the firstborn. And for what? Hunger and probably a little frustration from the day he’d had. It seems extreme. But how quick have we been to let a bad day take us to a box of chocolate, ice cream, or our favorite comfort food?
Before we realize it, those delicious snacks can become an idol and distraction from our ultimate Sustainer.
Think about it.
When our world falls apart, why do we reach for Oreos instead of shifting our eyes to the true Savior?
When we’ve accomplished something grand, is our first response to praise the Maker? Or “treat ourselves” with something to satisfy our worldly longings?
We’re called for so much more!
In Philippians 3, Paul wrote a challenging passage to believers regarding their earthy bodies … and how ungodly our bellies can be. It says:
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself. (Philippians 3:19-21) Emphasis added.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to serve that god. Rather, I want to crave moments with the One who will someday transform this “lowly body.” Through Him, we can accomplish anything—after all, He is the Bread of Life.
