FOOD 2: MADE TO EAT

Genesis 1:29 God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.”

We were created with physical needs. We are not just spirit – we are not like the angels – we have physical bodies with physical needs. This means that God made us to be dependent. Independence is greatly valued in our culture, but everyone depends on someone else for life. A baby depends upon its mother for food and warmth and care. Children, the old and the weak all depend on others to provide for them. Less obviously, city dwellers depend upon farmers – someone actually has to grow the food that we eat – and farmers are dependent upon the earth to bring forth crops.

Ultimately all of us are dependent on God to provide for us. It is God who makes the sun shine that enables plants to grow, in the earth that He created, so that we might be fed. Every time we take a bite of food it is a sign of our dependency. The most deliberately autonomous, independent, self-conscious person shows the limits of their autonomy and independence every time they get hungry.

We are creatures, and every bite of food we take should cause us to acknowledge and praise the creator.

It is for this reason that we give thanks before meals. Saying ‘grace’ can easily descend into meaningless formalism. For this reason, over the past 30 years many Christians have stopped doing it. It can feel like an anachronism – where is the grace in saying grace?! I like to give thanks though, because it reminds me that I am a creature, sustained by the creator. I didn’t make this food, even if I prepared it. Ultimately God has supplied it. And without this food I would die, and I don’t want to die, so I am grateful for my food and I give thanks.