Loving the World

The Federal Aviation Administration is in charge of many things relating to air travel in the United States. Among its duties is providing statistics about air travel to both the general population and the airlines. In 2004, the group increased its estimate of the weight of an average male passenger from 170 to 184 pounds, underscoring the general trend toward obesity in the American public.

Obesity doesn’t typically happen by accident. Although there are legitimate medical conditions that result in excessive weight gain, most obesity results from people’s choices to eat unhealthy foods in large quantities. Obesity can result in serious medical conditions that can threaten lives and raise medical costs for the people affected and, through increased insurance rates to compensate for the high cost of medicine, the entire society.

The Bible outlines very specific dietary guidelines for God’s people to follow. These guidelines don’t exist as a test or as a means to earn salvation, but rather because God cares about His people and wants them to be healthy. Additionally, Paul challenges believers to understand, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). When we take poor care of our bodies, we disallow God’s Spirit from dwelling within us.

Though our physical health will likely improve if we follow God’s dietary principles, we can follow a more general principle for all areas of our lives. First John 2:15, 16 tell us not to “love the world or the things in the world, because those things, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” are not from the Father. If we allow God to control our appetites for worldly things, including food, He will improve our lives and draw us into a closer relationship with Him.

Key Bible Texts

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4 KJV)