I was a runner in college. And when I say “runner”, I mean I ran 70 miles/week, 8k races at around 29 minutes, and twice daily workouts during the Cross Country season. I was 165 pounds of NCAA Division III scholarshipped Cross Country... mediocrity. Ok, maybe there are a whole load of people who can’t run 8k at any pace, but compared to even the other guys on my team, I wasn’t really a great runner.
Maybe I could have been. Maybe if I trained harder or cared more or watched Prefontaine more often I could have brought my time down to 25 minutes. My real problem: I love fried food and I worked at Sonic Drive In.
I love fried food. I love French Fries, Onion Rings, Tater Tots, Fish-wiches, Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken Fried Chicken, Donuts... the list goes on. And all of these things I had at my fingertips at any time for 25-35 hours/week. The problem with this is that these kinds of food wreak havoc on your body, and pretty much immediately after you eat them. So I was running hard and negating much of my work by the food that I ate.
My deeper problem was (and still is) a general lack of self-control, especially in the area of food. I think with all the media coverage on obesity in America, we are all aware of the national trend towards indulgence. Our lack of boundaries extends to other areas, as well: Need a new (fill in the blank)? Why wait? You DESERVE a new (fill in the blank). And you can finance it for 72 months with no money down!
Whatever the causes were, as a college student, I was spoiled. I still am in some ways. The easier it is to acquire that thing which is really not in our best interest, the harder it is to control ourselves. So when I had fried foods at my fingertips, my desires overwhelmed my reason and discipline. I think we can substitute any of our vices here.
Consider this:
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Corinthians 6:12
Sometimes we allow our habits to be shaped by things simply because they are there. Since I can have it, then I must necessarily need it and have the right to get it whenever I choose. So in Matt Parker’s case, if he needs fried foods, he has the right to have Sonic at his fingertips whenever he wants it. Until 2 am, anyway.
And maybe I can. After all, all things are lawful for me, especially as a believer. I live in America where fast food is everywhere and often cheaper than buying and preparing healthy food. But that does not mean it is good or beneficial for me and those around me.
Every day we face opportunities that will either benefit us or not. I wonder what would happen in our church if we all made this verse a daily reminder. What if we took seriously this idea of not being mastered by our desires and passions?
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
