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Your attitude towards food can reveal your heart.

When I used to joke about my hapless efforts at the culinary arts, I thought I was kidding. No more. After many years of trying, I’ve come to the conclusion: I’m a lousy cook.

Recently, my wife’s two nieces came for a visit and she went out gallivanting with them, seeing the sights all over, leaving me to fend for myself for my meals. (Do you feel sorry for me yet?)

One evening I finally got sick of kebabs, frites, and whatever and decided to make a real meal. So, I went to the grocery store looking for something prepared that I could warm up (that’s almost real).

My eyes lit on a package labeled “moussaka.” I had eaten this Greek dish when I was in Albania and loved it. Good idea David. Go for it.

At home a problem set in. As I looked at the package to see how long to warm it in the oven, I could only find instructions for the microwave. We don’t have a microwave. “Anyway, it must work about the same if you put it in the oven,” I reasoned.

So, I put little holes in the plastic on top of the container and shoved it into the oven. (That’s what you do for TV dinners isn’t it?)

After a while I went back to see how my work of art was doing. It looked as if the plastic was melting towards the top of the food. So, I rescued dinner, hoping that it had gotten warm already. Nothing could be worse than plastic-coated moussaka, could it?

Well, luke-warm moussaka isn’t far behind. It was uninspiring, but I was hungry so I ate it. I even gave thanks before dining. I’ll have to admit that I wasn’t very thankful afterwards. Sorry Lord.

Notre attitude envers la nourriture = notre attitude envers Dieu ?

There must be a trick to this cooking thing that I haven’t discovered.

Can I tell you a truth about food? Often, we know a bit of our attitude towards God as we look at our attitude towards food! Sound crazy? Listen.

When the disciples were filled with God’s Spirit they did several “spiritual things.” Among them the Bible specifically mentions, “”They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2:46, 47 The Message)

Something about being full of the Spirit made them genuinely thankful for the food they ate. So, m’aam, next time the goodman of the house complains about his supper just say, “If you were full of the Spirit you’d be thankful for those beans and bologna and not complaining. Add a little mustard.”

Think I’m reaching a bit to make a point? Listen to what happen to a bunch of people who complained about their food (actually these particular people complained about nearly everything).

“… they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” (Num. 21:5 NIV)

And listen to the result: “Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.” Griping about your food can have serious consequences.

But listen to how they talked about God’s miracle provision food–manna. “We detest this miserable food!” One of the French versions translates it, “Misery food.”

Manna was “misery food?” Bread from heaven?

Monotone

Now let’s be honest. They were eating much the same thing every day. It’s like the fellow who said to his wife just before he gave thanks for the food, “Honey, I don’t want to complain but this is the third time I’ve blessed this meal.”

Sometimes you eat what you have until you get where you’re going. There weren’t a lot of McDonalds in the desert. You may be in a belt-tightening place or a boring place. Often we’ve got to eat manna until we reach our destination.

Be careful what you say at times like this. “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matt. 12:37 NIV). “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” (Prov. 18:21 The Message)

If you don’t want snakes licking your toes, you might want to watch your mouth. And it’s not just about what you eat. It’s your complete attitude towards life.

Are you eating misery bread? Could it be that the misery is in your heart and not in your mouth?

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Hummm … “Never trust your tongue when your heart is bitter.” Samuel Johnson

Smile—Twitter:  Unappreciated Pastor@Rev_Norespect
You should have heard the sermon I preached on faith. It was unbelievable.