But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. (Romans 13:14)
Just before this verse Paul says to walk properly as in daytime. I think he means not to do things we would be ashamed of everyone seeing. He also says to stay away from orgies, drunkeness, sexual immorality and sensuality, quarreling and jealousy. He was writing to the Romans 2000 years ago but things are still the same. These are still the things our society is involved with today. But those are just examples. He takes it one step further telling us to “make to provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
Does that mean we are not to enjoy anything? No, but it does mean we need to be conscious of our motivation. For example, food is for sustenance. The purpose of food is not for pleasure or for comfort. That doesn’t mean when we eat that it can’t be pleasurable. However, it does mean that our motivation for eating shouldn’t be for pleasure. When eat for pleasure we become gluttons. We put on weight and our health suffers. Food taken outside of the intended purpose no longer brings life but death. We end up becoming a slave to our desires and distracted from our purposes.
I speak from experience. I struggle with this. Food has never been a struggle for me but lately it has become one. I love ice cream. I love cake and pie. I love any kind of cookie. There is not a dessert that I can turn down. And what is the purpose of dessert? Pleasure. I read this verse twenty pounds too late.
What pleasures do you find distracting? Is your flesh distracting you from God’s purpose and mission for your life?
