“Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and vomit.” –Proverbs 25:16
My daughter found the verse above and shared it with my other daughter (who loves honey) as a sisterly warning. They’ve been laughing about it for many days. It’s delighted our whole family, in fact!
The literal meaning is pretty clear. Eat too much honey and you’ll feel sick. I’ve been there — haven’t we all?
So is God saying we shouldn’t eat too much honey, or even too many sweets? That is the obvious implication, and we know God cares about our health enough to say so. But because we know God considers a honey a precious food, I don’t think He’s telling us to avoid it entirely.
Metaphorically, could God be suggesting we avoid excess consumption of other “sweet” things? Here are some ways we can overindulge in the sweets of this world.
–We can fill up on movies, music, games and other entertainments to the point that we’re spiritually stagnant — spiritually sick. We’re missing out on the sustenance God provides through His Word.
–Some persons may flatter others with sweet words, yet other actions and attitudes reveal that underneath, where it counts, they lack the fruits of the Spirit.
–Another person may be driven to purchase the latest technologies, books, or knick-knacks. Gradually, her life and home fills with clutter that drains her physically and emotionally as she attempts to maintain the collection.
–A person’s interest in healthy eating becomes an obsession, causing an original pure motivation (such as love for God and others) to become secondary to the idol of perfect eating or perfect health.
Sweet “things” are like honey. We have a choice: whether to enjoy them moderately as gifts given by God; or whether to indulge in them to the point that they become idols in our lives, sickening us spiritually or physically.
What “sweet” things come to your mind that can be spiritually or physically sickening when overdone?
This devotional is included in the coming week’s real food menu plan.
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Thank you for this post! It really makes me think about all of the things I have cluttering my life that really are overwhelming. I think I should really take inventory.
thanks for this great reminder…it’s so easy to put technology like facebook, twitter, blogs before my quiet time with the Lord, and before my family. How sweet the rewards when priorities are in the right place, though 🙂
Awesome post, I’m going to share this on Facebook! 🙂 Too many times we are over indulging in things in life and don’t even realize that it’s causing problems.
Great post! Totally understand. Will be emailing you today sometime. Have some questions I want to ask you in regarding some things. Oh, and the sourdough e-course is AWESOME! I am now planning to make my first sourdough crackers!! :o) HUGS!
Hi, Mare! Please do send an email. I haven’t received anything yet. 🙂 Enjoy the crackers!
I love this post. I think we all forget from time to time how overindulging can creep into all aspects of our lives.
Thank you for these reminders! We always need to keep our focus on the eternal things. Keep
challenging us.
Waht a wonderful post, a needed reminder. Thank you Wardee!
What a beautiful reminder. Thank you, Wardee, for this thoughtful devotional. It’s always a delight to have my focus unexpectedly shifted from the physical (food!) to the spiritual.
Thank you for the spirit filled thought!
Thanks for the encouragement. I have definitely been struggling with making healthy eating habits the thing I serve instead of the thing that serves me.