Sandy Zalecki
Member
But without faith it is impossible to please Him for he who comes to God must believe the He is, and that He is a rewarded of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
America lives a 3-P lifestyle: Pepsi, pizza, and pleasure. In light of the large number and variety of restaurants today, it appears that Americans have become self-indulgent and overly fond of eating things because they taste good. Perhaps our taste buds and our belly have become our God as mentioned in Philippians 3:19.
The four Hebrew captives in Daniel had the "privilege" to eat of the king's delicacies. But they refused the food and wine from the king's table and requested vegetables and water. Why? The vegetables was in keeping with Old Testament dietary laws, and it was also more wholesome and nutritious. So besides the religious implications, the Hebrews' chosen diet reflected self-restraint, self-discipline, and temperance, in contrast to the mentality of self-gratification and "eat, drink, and be merry."
Their faithfulness among godless people in a foreign land is a noble and inspiring example. By the same token, it behoves us as latter-day pilgrims and strangers not to adopt the loose living of the world, which include "excess of wine, revelings and banquets." (1 Peter 4:3) Let us rather maintain the old paths, which include eating simple meals at home and enjoying profitable family time around the table.
Verses 15-21 of Daniel 1 sum up the reward that God bestowed upon these four young men for their conscientious obedience and their temperate lifestyle. God blessed them with notable wisdom and with favor before the king. Truly we still serve the same God today! Truly He still blesses all those who diligently seek Him and who willingly obey the doctrines and precepts of the Word, out of a pure heart.
America lives a 3-P lifestyle: Pepsi, pizza, and pleasure. In light of the large number and variety of restaurants today, it appears that Americans have become self-indulgent and overly fond of eating things because they taste good. Perhaps our taste buds and our belly have become our God as mentioned in Philippians 3:19.
The four Hebrew captives in Daniel had the "privilege" to eat of the king's delicacies. But they refused the food and wine from the king's table and requested vegetables and water. Why? The vegetables was in keeping with Old Testament dietary laws, and it was also more wholesome and nutritious. So besides the religious implications, the Hebrews' chosen diet reflected self-restraint, self-discipline, and temperance, in contrast to the mentality of self-gratification and "eat, drink, and be merry."
Their faithfulness among godless people in a foreign land is a noble and inspiring example. By the same token, it behoves us as latter-day pilgrims and strangers not to adopt the loose living of the world, which include "excess of wine, revelings and banquets." (1 Peter 4:3) Let us rather maintain the old paths, which include eating simple meals at home and enjoying profitable family time around the table.
Verses 15-21 of Daniel 1 sum up the reward that God bestowed upon these four young men for their conscientious obedience and their temperate lifestyle. God blessed them with notable wisdom and with favor before the king. Truly we still serve the same God today! Truly He still blesses all those who diligently seek Him and who willingly obey the doctrines and precepts of the Word, out of a pure heart.
