Sense and Sensibility: Food and Exercise

In the previous post, we began to look at the term "sensible" (or discreet, or self-controlled) from Titus 2:5. We are going to borrow Jane Austen's contrasting viewpoints of sense and sensibility to look at different areas of life, to see how we can apply the truths of Titus 2 to our own lives. Today the topic is food and exercise.

To take a ‘sense’ approach to our food, we will be governed my moderation.

I Corinthians 10:31: Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

To glorify God we must be thankful for the food He has given us. It is okay, even appropriate, to enjoy the food He has given us. We want to be good stewards of the bodies God has given us, so we must seek a generally healthy, nutritious diet.

I think it is very easy to see food as a totally non-spiritual issue. But that is a lie. God commands us to glorify Him in all that we do, including our diet.

Elisabeth Eliot said, "We cannot give our hearts to God and keep our bodies to ourselves."

In contrast, a ‘sensibility’ approach to food could take a number of forms.

Probably most frequently we overindulge our desires in this area. Our senses tell us, I want chocolate, or potato chips, or ice cream, or whatever is your own favorite, and, in this case very literally, we feed that desire. We eat not to glorify God, but to please self, or because we’re discouraged, or nervous, or angry, or bored.

But sensibility can take other, more deceptive forms.

We can be zealous regarding our diet, but for all the wrong reasons—such as vanity, sensuality, desire for acceptance, fear of man.

We can become obsessed with healthy eating to the point where it, rather than God, dominates our thinking, discussions, and decision making, and we become judgmental toward others. God wants us to eat in a way that will glorify Him. That’s being sensible.

Miss Sense knows that exercise is good for her, part of a healthy lifestyle. She has a plan and puts it into practice with a reasonable degree of consistency, on days she feels like it and days she doesn't. Miss Sensibility again can go to extremes. She may avoid exercise altogether, or participate only when she's in the mood. Or she may be an exercise fanatic. Fitness is the driving force in her life. She frantically fights against the aging process and is determined to work out like a 25 year old, even if she's 50. Actually she needs to work out even harder, because she still hopes to look like that 25 year old.

In this area of life, who are you--Sense or Sensibility?

Please share any ideas or practical steps you take that help you to be sensible, or self-controlled regarding food and exercise.