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A Study of Junk Food

Mark Howdeshell (3 June 2007)

Romans 12:2— Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Questions to Ponder

1.       What do I eat?

2.       What should I eat?

3.       What does what I eat do to my body?

4.       What does this have to do with a Sunday School lesson?

Heart of the Matter

Phil Joel of Newsboys--- “There is an enemy of our souls.  He has a plan to destroy us with a complete buffet of lifestyle garbage.” ¹

Phil’s pastor—“You hunger for what you feed on and you feed on what you hunger for.”[1]

Junk Food

That junk food has this effect on so many Americans is an incredible feat. I challenge you to think of any other food that has such a strong hold on so many of us. So what is it about junk food that makes us want it, crave it even, despite knowing that it is just what it claims to be--junk? Well, here are just some of the reasons:

·         It tastes good

·         You’ve had a hard day and deserve a "reward"

·         Lack of time to prepare something healthier

·         It makes you feel good initially and maybe you’re trying to use the immediate pleasure you get from eating it to substitute for other areas in your life that are lacking pleasure (loneliness, depression, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, etc.)

·         It’s cheap (sometimes)

I don’t think I need to go on, but my point is that many people want these nutritionally devoid foods. Now consider the following statistics:

·         Americans spent $117 billion in obesity-related economic costs in 2003

·         An estimated 300,000 Americans die each year from fat-related causes

·         In 2000, Americans spent more than $110 billion on fast food alone

·         Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars.

·         Americans spend up to an estimated $50 billion a year on diet and weight loss

·         The food industry has a $30 billion advertising budget

·         McDonald's reportedly spent $500 million on one ad campaign, while the National Cancer Institute spends about $1 million a year to promote eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables

·         Junk food advertisements target children as young as 3 years old

·         Junk food marketers spent an estimated $15 billion in 2002 solely on marketing aimed at children[2]

Junk food is bad for the body.  No one disputes that fact (except MacDonalds!!)  Feeding on bad food will leave you craving for more.  In the end your body will be out of shape, possibly sick, devoid of energy, and just overall run down.  Conversely, feeding on good food can not only reverse the effects, but it’s just as contagious!  You’ll like the feeling, the increased energy, and the increased function.  Why would you want to go back?

Spiritual Junk Food

Do you feed on the junk food of this world (wrong TV shows, movies, or internet, pornography, the drive for fame, fortune, or recognition, pride, gossip, etc.) instead of feeding on the Lord in prayer, meditation, prayer, and fellowship with Believers?  Have you gotten “out of shape” and even grown a “spiritual fatty layer” that will block your true potential in Christ?¹  Our enemy has set a table before us that is hard to resist.  WE MUST RESIST BY THE POWER OF JESUS!!!

The Word

The Disciples Rejoin Jesus  

John 4:27Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

 28Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29"Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ^[b^]?" 30They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

 31Meanwhile his disciples urged him, "Rabbi, eat something."

 32But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you know nothing about."

 33Then his disciples said to each other, "Could someone have brought him food?"

 34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."

John 6:  26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

Warnings From Israel's History

 1 Corinthians 10: 1For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3They all ate the same spiritual food 4and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

 6Now these things occurred as examples^[a^] to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry."^[b^] 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

 11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Hebrews5:  11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

The Bottom Line

Avoiding the “temptation” of junk food can only be accomplished by changing your mindset.  You must choose to feed on the “good food”.  Just like good food will nourish your body, fortify it with nutrients, boost your immune system, and fight disease, time in the Word will prepare you for the world in which we live. 

Make a conscious and deliberate decision to meet with the Lord every day.  Spend time LISTENING and feeding on His presence.  Make your “quiet time” with the Lord a priority instead of just another task.  If you approach it with the right mindset and heartset, you’ll crave it more and more!

The Take-Away

Phil Joel—“In Psalm 19, King David talks about being hungry for God’s word and ways.  He describes them as being “more to be desired than fine gold” and “sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.  When we eat the right foods, we build and strengthen our bodies.  As we feed on God’s presence through His Word and prayer every day, we build and strengthen our relationship with Him.  We hunger for what we feed on, and we feed on what we hunger for.   So what are you hungry for?”¹

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Last modified: 11/30/08