A perplexing way to start a blog entry, huh? Thinking about the meaning of our excess weight isn’t something that we really seek to consider, as most often we are too busy trying to find a way to lose it. However, let me challenge you for a moment to reconsider your approach. Discovering the hidden meeting may make the difference between you losing this weight permanently or just for a season.
What does this weight mean? Why do I consistently have weight problems? That is a question that many of us find difficult to answer. Our most common response to this question is usually found in the physical realm; excess weight may represent a slow metabolism, poor eating choices, eating too much food, or side effects from illness or physical sickness. Our next likely place to start would be in the emotional realm, as an extra 20 or 30 pounds might represent a wound – a torn place in the heart that somehow did not heal properly. Well, what if I asked you what your weight meant in the spiritual realm? What does your excess weight demonstrate about your relationship with God? Or lack thereof?
In our weight loss journeys, we spend the most time thinking about the physical aspects of this excess weight. How can exercise it off? What do I need to eat? What can I no longer eat? How long must I go without_________ to lose this last 20 pounds? The physical aspect of the weight loss journey does mean something, but perhaps it does not mean as much as one would think.
Let’s take a look at Scripture in order to gain some more understanding:
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” – Matthew 6:24
"My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water." – Jeremiah 2:13
"Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul with all your strength.”-Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Three different scriptures, given to three different groups of people, yet all speaking to the heart of the message we need to hear today. Humans were created to worship. Naturally, we all have things that have our devotion, things that we love, and things that are passionate pursuits in our lives. As a Christian, we are called to passionately pursue a relationship with God. He is supposed to be THE one we turn to when we need something, and He is supposed to be our main source of nourishment, and food was only meant to meet physical needs. Once we would set our hearts and love upon him, we would find everything that we need in His presence. Everything. That’s how God always wanted things.
Yet, somehow, things don’t quite work this way. If you have excess weight, more often than not, food has become the substitution for this singular devotion, leaving us with divided hearts, aching self-esteem, and more stories of weight loss and regain than we want to mention.
So now, I ask you to consider your life, your weight, and your relationship with God. Am I talking to you? Do you worship and give your love to food? Think about it. Think about all those times when you become overwhelmed, you become stressed, you just need something to make things better. Where does food fall in that equation? Is it a part of your solution?
Friends, the sad part is that, unfortunately, food never really works quite well. It never does. Oh sure, there is definitely a temporary benefit, but before long, we still have to deal with the same problem and same concern. Assess your relationship with God as you are pursuing your weight loss goals. Think about it – what does your excess weight mean?
