What is the root of all evil? Most people, Christian or not, can give an answer to this question. Most would answer that money is the root of all evil. However, this is not a complete answer. The Bible tells us that it is not money, but the love of money that is the root of all evil (I Timothy 6:10). Many people covet money and are willing to sacrifice their principles and ethics for financial gain, and therefore fall into temptation which plunges them into ruin and destruction. Money is not the enemy, it is just a tool that God has given us to carry out His plans for our lives. It was meant for our enjoyment, not our destruction. So what does this have to do with food, you might be asking yourself right now. Well food, much like money, was given to us for our enjoyment, but like money, we have abused food to the point where we are putting our love of food over our love of God. The trap was set, and too many of us have fallen into the food temptation trap which is causing ruin and destruction in our lives.
Like money, food is not our enemy. However, when our desire for food becomes a focal point in our lives, and when we get to a place where we are consumed by this desire, then it opens the door for sinful behavior. Too often we abuse what God has given us for our enjoyment. When we look to food to fill emotional voids, when we overeat because of stress or depression, or when we feel the temptation of food is too strong to withstand, we are not walking in the Spirit through whom we have self-control (Galatians 5:22). Instead, when we give in to the power that food has over us, we are indulging our flesh. However, we are told not to indulge our flesh because it desires what is contrary to the Spirit (Galatians 5:17). When we walk in our flesh we are in direct conflict with the Holy Spirit that resides in us, and this is what causes us to fall into the temptation trap.
In Matthew 6:24 Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money (ESV).” Jesus is saying that when we spend most of our time thinking about how we can gain wealth we will become devoted to that and then we will harden our hearts to God and His ways. This holds true with food as well. For many of us that have food addiction, our desire for food outweighs our commitment to God. We are serving our desire for food, not our desire for God. In the next verse, Matthew 6:25, Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Is not life more than food? Yes! Jesus himself tells us that we cannot live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Food is a trap that the enemy has set to keep us in bondage and one that many of us have a hard time escaping. Jesus tells us that we can only be devoted to one master, and to live a life full of peace and self-control, that master has to be God. The Word of God is the only solution to overcoming our food struggles. 1 Timothy 6:12 tells us we have to “fight the good fight of the faith” in our conflict with evil. We have to set our hope on God and turn away from the desires of our flesh.
The Truth in Action: Does your love of food outweigh your love of God? To find out, spend a day recording how many times you think about food and how many times you think about God. What occupies your thoughts? If you come to the realization that you are spending more of your time and energy thinking about food, then you are serving food, not God. The only way to break free from this bondage is through your focus on the Word of God and living by the Spirit instead of your flesh.
Meditate on Scripture: Galatians 5:1 (NIV) – It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Further Study: Read Galatians 5:13-25. These verses explain living life by the Spirit. When we allow the Holy Spirit, who resides in all believers, to lead us then we will see the fruits of the Spirit materialize in our lives, one of which is self-control. Overcome food addiction by keeping in step with the Spirit.