Relationships are the secret sauce to a successful life. In fact, studies show that people with healthy relationships naturally live longer, happier, and more productive lives. This should not come as a surprise. But this is huge to understand for family success.
But… what about our non-human relationships? No, I’m not talking about cuddling up with AI robots, but about our ongoing relationship with inanimate things that still clearly and directly affect our lives, our families, and our futures. I’m talking about our ongoing relationships with food, time, and money.
Let’s be honest, you have a history with each of these three things, and so do I. Just like in personal relationships, our past often shapes and directs our future, for either good or bad. Patterns repeat themselves, either to our success or our demise. This is true for us. This is especially true for our kids who are learning these patterns from watching us.
For today, let’s talk about food.
FOOD
Have you ever noticed how when the Bible addresses gluttony (excessive eating), it almost exclusively talks about it side by side with drunkenness (excessive drinking)—Deut. 21:20, Prov. 23:21, Matt. 11:19, Luke 7:34.
However, it’s interesting that drunkenness is so quickly condemned (as it should be), yet there is a lot of silence around the subject of gluttony, which, according to Scripture, is also just as sinful.
The point—God never intended for food to control us any more than he intended for alcohol to control us (Eph. 5:18). This is one of the many reasons why our relationship with food matters.
This past year, I had to admit that in many ways food had become a god to me. Instead of me controlling it. It was controlling me.
Now, don’t get me wrong… I still love food. But in reality, it has become less important to me than it was (thankfully, I’ve lost 30 lbs in recent months). Now I’m trying to lead my family towards a healthier and more biblical relationship with food.
As with anything in life that needs to change, I realized that what I truly needed was a change in perspective. I needed to change the way that I was thinking about my relationship with food before I could change the way that I was behaving in this relationship.
I came to realize that this was a part of the biblical process of renewing my mind (Romans 12:2)—changing the way I think about something to better honor God with my life.
Before we can change anything in life for the better, whether concerning food, time, or money, something has to change in the way that we think.
We have to acknowledge our unhealthy patterns of thinking and start aligning our thoughts with God’s thoughts on the subject, rather than remaining self-deceived in unhealthy thoughts and patterns.
Don’t worry, GodlyParent.com is not going to become a health blog. However, every area of our life impacts our family, including, and especially, our health. So don’t ignore it. (Why your health matters for your kids)
So a simple question for you today… How could you establish a better relationship with food personally, and in your home, starting this week? Could you…
- Resolve to schedule a predetermined number of family meals you’ll eat together around the dinner table?
- Rethink how and what you stock your fridge and cabinets with? (set yourself up for success by making what’s close also what’s convenient)
- Resist becoming a victim of your family relying on the drive-thru to get you through?
The habits of your household matter, including your relationship with food. Why? Because ALL OF LIFE IS WORSHIP (Col. 3:23). I hope these thoughts will challenge you. And if I can help you further in this area, just let me know. I’d be glad to help.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31
For the next generation,
Andrew
PS. – Next week, in part two, let’s tackle a few things about your relationship with time and why it matters for your family. Have a great week!
