The God of Food

John 6:26-35 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

The counterfeit gods

The temple of pleasure,

Food,

Sex

Entertainment

The temple of power,

The temple of love.

Food is not bad in and of itself.

The problem begins when we start to look to food to do for us what God alone should do.

Instead of turning to God, how often do we try to treat a troubled life or troubled soul as if it were a growling stomach?

A very large part of mankind’s ills and of the world’s misery is due to the rampant practice of trying to feed the soul with the body’s food.

Ways that we give ourselves over to the god of food to bring meaning to our lives.

First of all, some people look to the god of food to give themselves a feeling of control.

Some people look to the god of food to give themselves an escape or distraction from reality.

Some people look to the god of food to give them insolation or an outer protection from harm.

Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you.” (John 6:26-27)

Jesus explained to them: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (Jn. 6:35)

Do I really believe that Jesus is the bread of life and that my real hunger and thirst can only be satisfied by Him?

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled”? (Mt. 5:6)

 “Taste and see that the Lord is good”? (Psalm 34:8)

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” (Mt. 4:4)

“I have food to eat that you do not know about…My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (Jn. 4:32, 34)

Has the god of food taken our attention away from our real God who is the bread of life?

How we can help identify if our relationship with food is in line with a right relationship with God.

Do I eat more for pleasure or for nourishment?

When and why do I overindulge?

Am I able to exercise, Holy Spirit given self-control?

David wrote, ‘Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.’