“But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. But now, after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?” Galatians 4:8-9
I could smell the grease, taste the
salt, and feel the fries dissolving in my mouth. As I sat in line at
the drive-thru, I had only one thing on my mind: carbs. I'd had a
terrible day. I was stressed out, and probably hyped up on caffeine.
If I could just get the rush of fat and salt and carbohydrate, all of
it would be better.
But my focus was in the wrong place. I
like to say I don't eat emotionally, but that's a lie. Not every time
I binge it's emotional. Sometimes it is just force of habit. I am
guilty, however, of turning to food when I'm stressed or angry or
sad. If I can just get the hit of dopamine, it'll all be better.
Food is a liar. It promises to take
care of our needs. It says it will boost our mood, quiet the voices
in our minds, push out the boredom. It might do that for a brief
moment. If we get enough food, that moment will last a little longer.
But it never lasts long enough. There is no way for food truly
satisfy the longings of our hearts or settle our upset emotions. It
can chemically change how we feel, but it will be followed by a sugar
crash, an upset stomach, or feelings of guilt.
Turning to food to fix how we feel is
wrong. Turning to social media, to alcohol, to other people, all lead
ultimately to disappointment. No earthly thing can satisfy. Paul
calls these the “weak and beggarly elements.” They are the things
we serve as gods before coming and serving the true God. And, sadly,
find ourselves serving them, trying to serve two masters, after we have
known God.
In the case of the Galatians, the
people were turning to the law to save them. The Judaisers had
convinced them that they needed to fulfill the old law, and to be
circumcised. Only then could they be saved. I may not be looking to
food to save my soul and declare me righteous before God, but it
still tends to take God's place in my heart. Rather than thinking
through and facing my problems, asking for the wisdom God has
promised in His word (James 1:5-6), I shove my stress and anger down
my throat with French fries and cookies.
It is too easy to forget that we have
known and are known by God.
Jesus has taken our sins, borne our punishment, and presented us to
God covered by His righteousness. We are held in His hand securely.
No feelings or circumstances will ever undo
that. Whatever emotions or situations feel overwhelming, God is
bigger. He has ordained them. He will help us through.
Don't
submit to bondage. Don't place yourself under masters that always
require more and more and never satisfy. Run to Jesus, the author and
finisher of our faith. Turn away from the weak and beggarly
elements. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ Jesus
has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of
bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)
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