This week a co-worker was selling candy bars to raise money for her son’s youth group. The candy bars were in the office kitchen with an envelope and a short note explaining the goal of the fundraiser (I don’t recall the fundraiser’s purpose). Each candy bar was $1. I put $1 in the envelope and proceeded back to my desk and consumed the candy bar.
I later justified this by saying “I ate a candy bar for Jesus!”. In an indirect way, the result of my purchase of the candy bar would support the youth group and thus be for Jesus. Right?
In retrospect, I was having a stressful day and just wanted to have a candy bar. At the time, I was not thinking about Jesus or the youth group of the son of a co-worker who I’ve never met. I don’t know anything about the youth group and what its church believes. Maybe, it was not even a youth group that believes in Jesus. I hope it is a Christ believing group, but I didn’t bother to check. I just wanted a candy bar to soothe my stress.
I did not need this candy bar as I have been attempting to lose a few pounds. If it was really about the youth group and Jesus I could have just put a $1 donation (or other amount) into the envelope and not taken a candy bar. I gave into the candy bar temptation instead of asking Jesus for way out.
1 Corinthians 10:12-13
12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
This week (after the candy bar incident) I read an email from Weight Watchers that I could come back (I did WW previously) and they would waive the sign up fee. After discussing WW with a close friend, I decided to sign up again! I am planning to use Weight Watchers as my “way out” when food temptations arrive after today since I ate a lot of desserts for Mother’s Day!
Heidi Bender writes about her experiences of learning to play the organ. She started on the adventure in 2009.
She also writes on her website Tons of Thanks, which helps people write thank-you notes. Heidi is also a cat lady who writes at The Joy of Cats.
Mary. I it is so hard to not want chocolate!! I like the verse you selected. Makes you think. Thank you Heidi!
Thanks for reading, Mary! It is hard to choose to not have food that we love!