Two out of three American adults are overweight. Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, where more than $35 billion dollars are spent annually to treat this condition. Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and certain types of cancer are said to be directly linked to obesity.
How much have you personally spent on weight-loss related products and services? What has been your personal contribution to this huge amount spent on obesity treatments? Are you, like millions of others, worried about your weight? If you had the means—and the willpower, of course—how much would you be willing to spend, or to sacrifice, to get rid of your excess weight?
Obesity is something most everyone hates. But is obesity merely physical? Can there be a spiritual "obesity"? There certainly can be— and there often is! Actually, spiritual obesity is much worse than physical obesity. Moreover, there are no "spiritual girdles" for sale to deflate expanded egos, swollen pride and morbid vanity.
Are you as willing to struggle to reduce your spiritual obesity as you are to eliminate your physical fat?
Through the Eye of a Needle
What a pity it is that most people are more concerned with their physical condition than with their spiritual development! How many of those who faithfully follow the instructions contained in the various crash-diet handbooks are refusing to pay attention to the instructions given in another Manual—a much more important one—which, if followed can help us all get rid of our spiritual fat? Few seem to realize that excess spiritual calories are far more harmful than excess physical calories.
To overcome spiritual obesity, one must follow a spiritual diet. This is the only way to have peace of mind, and to experience healthy spiritual growth.
Jesus Christ's disciples were often unable to understand His parables. They were astounded by a statement He made about the rich. A young man approached Jesus to ask what he was supposed to do in order to inherit eternal life. Christ told him to keep the commandments. But the young man was not satisfied with that answer. He had kept the commandments as a matter of form since his childhood. What did he lack? What else was there to do? When Christ told him to sell all that he possessed and give it to the poor, the young man walked away sorrowful and depressed, because he was very wealthy and was unwilling to give up his physical riches for the Kingdom of God.
Turning to His disciples after the young man's departure, Christ said: "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:23–24).
The rich young man was too fat with pride of possession to be able to pass through "the eye of a needle." He was in dire need of a spiritual diet; he had to learn to detach himself from his material wealth—the obstacle that produced in him the carnal qualities that would keep him out of the Kingdom of God. Sadly, he thought the price was too high for him to pay. He did not wish to slim down in the way Christ had instructed; he did not realize that he was far too overweight with selfishness and the love of the world.
The Narrow Gate
On another occasion, Christ gave His disciples the following teaching: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13–14).
A "narrow gate" and "difficult way" are certainly larger than the "eye of a needle." Nevertheless, to negotiate them does require much spiritual "thinning down"—maintaining a spiritual diet that consists of disciplining ourselves, mastering our nature and deflating our ego.
Generally speaking, we are all very tolerant of ourselves. We condone in ourselves what we are not willing to overlook in others. It seems as though—so far as we are concerned—the "golden rule" is a one-way street: we want everyone to treat us well, regardless of how we treat them. This is tantamount to entering through the wide gate and following the way that leads to destruction.
Anyone who has ever followed a diet of any kind knows that one has to learn to say "no" to items that the diet forbids. Following a spiritual diet requires as much determination and strength of will—if not more. If you can learn to say, "No, thank you" when physical food is concerned, you can also learn to say, "No, thank you" to thoughts or acts that are not permitted in your spiritual diet.
Jealousy, selfishness and vanity have a similar effect on your mind as fattening foods have on your body. They bog you down, and bloat you, producing the spiritual obesity that not only hinders you from going through the eye of a needle, but also from entering "the narrow gate."
Flattery, gossip and spreading rumors may provide you with "interesting" conversation—much as sugary products may excite your taste buds—but they will add greatly to your spiritual avoirdupois. The next time someone offers you a serving of these spiritually harmful delicacies, be sure to summon the courage to say to yourself—or to those who are around you—"No, thank you, I'm on a diet!"
Our Diet Handbook
Most of humanity today rejects the only Handbook that is the true authority on spiritual dieting: the Holy Bible.
Why? One reason is that people fail to understand that the Bible really contains all the essential principles in life—both physical and spiritual— that we so desperately need to keep our bodies and minds in good shape. The fact is that no matter what your beliefs may be, they cannot alter the truth: that the Bible is the one indispensable Handbook that helps us enter the "narrow gate" that leads to eternal life. It is our guideline—our Manual, our instruction Book—that contains all the necessary ingredients we need to maintain a good spiritual figure.
One of the most basic ingredients it teaches us is gratitude. Have you ever really considered what you have brought into this world? What have you contributed to it? How much have you done for others? What discoveries have you made that were not made before you? The Apostle Paul wrote: "Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1 Timothy 6:6–8).
Paul's tribulations taught him to practice what he preached. He could honestly write: "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me " (Philippians 4:11–13).
Gratitude, indeed, is one of the most efficient spiritual calorie-burners. It will allow you to lose many unnecessary spiritual pounds. All God has created is good; the laws He has prescribed are good for us. The "Way" He instructs us to follow is the only one that leads us toward the goal for which we have been created.
When you seriously consider all these factors, you cannot help but feel a deep gratitude toward your Creator. Gratitude creates a desire to share with others, to help them to come to this understanding and to help them be grateful—whatever their problems.
Another effective calorie-burner our Creator recommends in our spiritual diet is humility. Have you ever tried to use it—generously? Neither pride nor vengeance has any place in humility. Nor does selfishness. The Bible tells us, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others" (Philippians 2:3–4).
We must not confuse humility with weakness or lack of character. It takes tremendous courage and strength of character to be truly Christian. Perseverance requires of us a tough struggle against the obstacles and temptations in life. But God helps us to overcome. He gives us His Spirit of love and courage when we repent of our sins and are baptized.
You can be very strong, yet very humble. In fact, the more humble you are, the stronger you become. "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:5–7).
Examine your behavior and thoughts. Why do you act the way you do? What are your motives or reasons? Just how much space do pride and selfishness occupy in your mind? These are the undesirable calories— the spiritual "junk food"—that you need to watch in your spiritual diet. They are "empty calories"—utterly useless and entirely harmful. You must eliminate them by the exercise of humility. "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility" (Proverbs 15:33).
Other Great Calorie-Burners
The Bible speaks of other valuable calorie-burners: the "fruits of the Spirit"—joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith and temperance (Galatians 5:22–23).
The first and foremost, however— the first fruit of the Spirit of God—is love: love toward God, and love toward your neighbor.
All that you do, say and think should be founded on—and guided by—love. Can you say that you are living by this standard in your own life? Love never seeks to hurt anyone. It is not envious. It does not lust. Love is not puffed up with pride. Rather, it is full of humility and regards others more highly than itself. Love is patient; it knows how to wait without being irritated. It does not suspect wrong motives. Love forgives faults and forgets them—it never seeks vengeance (1 Corinthians 13).
Again, ask yourself: "Does this describe me?"
In essence, this is our spiritual diet. It does work if we follow it faithfully. When someone offers us a course contrary to that diet, we must learn to refuse to accept it. We should say, "No, thank you, it isn't good for me. It's not on my diet." If we do this, we will not criticize people. We will not pass judgment on others. We will not speak evil of our neighbors. We will avoid these practices, because they increase our spiritual obesity. Our spiritual dieting Manual—God's word—prohibits us from indulging in these, because they are against love.
If you are not already on this spiritual diet, you should try it for a while, and see for yourself that it is effective. If you can muster the willpower to go on a physical diet, how much more important is it to dedicate your will to shedding unwanted spiritual poundage? After all, what good is the loss of a few physical pounds, if you are spiritually "tubby"? As Christ said: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36–37).
From a spiritual point of view, every one of us at present is much too "fat." With the help of Christ and the Holy Spirit, however, we can continue to cut down our spiritual obesity daily, getting rid of whatever is contrary to the teachings of our spiritual weight-loss Handbook, the Bible. As the Apostle Paul admonished: "let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Hebrews 12:1).
What prevents you from trying this spiritual diet? It costs you absolutely nothing, and prepares you for your place in the Kingdom of God!