Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. – 1 Corinthians 10:31
Paul wrote to a group of New Testament believers living in the middle of a pagan culture. In fact, the Corinthian church was located in one of the most lascivious cities of its time. Excess was normal. Living a conservative lifestyle was viewed with raised eyebrows.
Meat that was sacrificed to idols was sold in the open market, and Christians became confused over whether to buy it or not. Today, we too are faced with many challenges regarding the way we eat and how we handle our diets.
Sometimes when life gets out of control and stress increases, our eating habits change. Most of us have seen the devastating effects that come from eating too little or too much. The problem isn’t the food itself but rather with the way people use food to meet an emotional or spiritual need.
The need to control life also has driven many people to restrict what they eat. Eating too much or too little can be evidence of a greater need, and only Jesus has the answer to both of these situations. He is the One who accepts us when others turn their backs. When we realize that His acceptance and love are unconditional, our need to measure up to the world’s standards fades, and our sense of peace and security increases. We find satisfaction in living for Him as He becomes food for our soul.