Making Your Belly Your Bible
“Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.” - Philippians 3:19 (KJV)
Maybe you have heard the adage that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. But what happens if a woman is a poor cook or perhaps the man is a better cook? Or what if she is trying to win the affections of a world renowned chief from Paris? As you can see to travel down this path in hopes of winning someone’s heart is misguided and problematic. To be frank: it is fleshly.
Fleshly hearts and minds focus and feed on a countless number of physical pleasures and appetites. This is hedonism. Hedonism is the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good. Fleshly people not only make hedonism their hobby but it is also their heart. They solely exist to enjoy every pleasure available for the body, the soul and the mind. They make their belly their bible.
Pay attention people of God! People that are hooked on enjoying a self-centered happiness that exempts the purposes and will of God are practicing heathens. The word of God is very clear about for whom and what we should live.
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” - Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV)
“But he answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” - Matthew 4:4 (KJV)
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, shouldlive unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” - 1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
The Scriptures are clear that we who are followers of Jesus Christ must live righteous lives of faith, not ones consumed by temporary pleasures of the world.
In Philippians 3:19, Paul points us to people that pursue pleasure as opposed to pursuing Him who was punished for us. Through Jesus Christ’s punishment, He purchased us with His life that we may experience peace! Rather than recognizing this truth, the people to whom Paul is referring wanted to live in complete freedom of any restraints on their physical desires. This hedonistic focus caused them to become the enemies of the Cross and Christ. Consequently they will dine on destruction and eat some eternal embarrassment because they mentally and emotionally embrace earthly things.
Remember, when you live by your belly - it is spiritually fatalistic and you will never be full! However, when you live by the Bible, you will be rewarded with an eternally-fulfilled life.
Not a Sermon But a Thought,
PBKSR