“All man's efforts are for his mouth, yet his appetite is never satisfied.”
Now we come to some of Solomon's proverbs. We work to eat and eat to stay alive to work and the cycle continues. No matter how good or how much of a meal we have, in just a short time, we want to eat again. Hunger is only satisfied for a few hours at the most. We constantly need food. Satisfaction is short lived.
More times than I wish to admit I was so full I didn't want another bite. I have had to take food home from restaurants. I skipped dinner because lunch was so much, but by 10 pm I was hunting around the refrigerator looking for morsels. I skipped and skimmed on some days when I knew that a potluck was coming up or we were going out to eat, or having someone over for dessert.
I was watching the former reality show called, “The Biggest Loser”. One week some contestants were allowed 24 hours of luxury. They could go off their diets. Temptation was so strong, they not only ate some food they longed for, they also binged in drinking and eating resulting in feelings of remorse afterwards. Some gained weight and others didn’t lose anything in spite of all the work outs they did the other days. The sin of gluttony is a temptation that gives in to the lusts of the stomach.
God lets people like me, discover in various degrees the consequences of thinking food will satisfy. Many who are grossly overweight eat to cover up troubles or tension or worry or anxiety. If I have a particularly stressful day I want to eat more and reward myself with goodies that are only to be used sparingly. "I deserve it." I say to myself. I owe it to myself. I lie. Then instead of doing things according to the wisdom of my mind, I yield to gluttony.
Proverbs 16:26 "The laborer's appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on." If one is hungry, he learns to work. It is a great motivation against laziness.
In Hebrew poetry hunger and appetite mean the hunger of the soul which is not satisfied. In other words, work doesn't bring satisfaction to an empty life. Hard work doesn't bring relief from depression if there are conflicts that feed the soul with discouragement.
Food does not satisfy. It is pleasurable for a time but unless there are life changes, we pay the consequences for unhealthy eating habits.
Application: Someone asked me an interesting question. “Pastor, is it wrong to ask God to bless the meal when you know it is unhealthy junk food?” What do you think?
Prayer: Lord help me follow your word that whether I eat or drink, or whatever I do, I may do it all to the Glory of God.
