Comfort foods are huge crowd pleasers. They are juicy, yummy, trendy and make us “feel good”. Psychological studies point that they are good mood fixers too, allowing an experience of instant pleasure when in emotional stress. Some fall for comfort food because of convenience. Even though it starts as a happy story we cannot ignore the consequences of long term indulgence in such food as it gives rise to a range of hazardous health issues, ultimately messing with our whole system.
Anyway the focus of this article is not “Physical Comfort Food” but rather “Spiritual Comfort Food.” You might think, “Is there even a thing called Spiritual Comfort Food?” Well, long before McDonalds and KFC came into business, Paul advised Timothy to be aware of “Spiritual Food Intake.”
Let’s read 2 Timothy 4:2-4 (NIV) together.
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
When we dissect the above mentioned piece of advice from Paul to Timothy we can identify two contrasting spiritual food patterns or teachings mentioned in the text.
SPIRITUAL FOOD TYPE 1
Text says, “Sound and Wholesome teaching.” A further look into the Greek root word “???a??? hugiainó” suggests,
A Wholesome, Healthy, Balanced, Systematic, accurately handled teaching.
SPIRITUAL FOOD TYPE 2
Text says, “A teaching after the hearer’s passion/ lust.” A further look at the verses unveils,
A crowd pleasing, passion/ lust driven teaching
Let’s discuss
What is the “Trendy Spiritual Food Pattern” of this era? When you look around, surf the internet, go on YouTube what is the pattern you see people embrace? Most importantly what is the spiritual food pattern you embrace? Let’s ask the following questions from ourselves.
Am I a person who regularly read and study the bible Or just grab a bite from the bible as my inspiration for the day?
Am I really interested in the whole story of the bible Or just browsing through for blessings?
Am I interested in a committed relationship with God or looking for a Genie to grant my hearts desires?
Do I discern the will of God through reading the Word of God Or prefer a fortune teller to tell me what my future holds?
Am I a true seeker of the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness Or a seeker of Mantra’s and formulas to get what I want?
The Word of God warns us regarding Spiritual Comfort Food, that is the indulgence in certain verses of the bible, catchy ideas, claiming promises, instant blessings, magical words, formulas, one formula for prosperity, one for healing, one for finances etc. It is said that in the latter days’ people will passionately follow and flock around teachers who feed them this kind of Spiritual Comfort Food which unleash instant blessings, prosperity and forecast what will happen in the future. And we witness this trending pattern right in front of our eyes. Multitudes of Christians are falling away from the biblical Truths and lustfully chasing after Magic and myths as warned by Paul in the 1st century.
Indulgence in only certain parts of the Word of God is harmful for one’s healthy spiritual growth as it leaves out the important spiritual truths and keeps God’s people from partnering with God in the restoration process. Word of God clearly says that only a small number of people, known as God’s faithful remnant will remain true to the Word of God and enter through the Narrow gates (Matthew 7:13).
It is high time to pay careful attention on our Spiritual Diet. We need to be intentional on what we take in. We should not lust after our own desires but we need to embrace the whole truth revealed in the Word of God. Only the truth can set us free (John 8:32).
Shalom!
