"A Healthy Diet" April 13 Readings: Proverbs 15-19

Today's Reading - Proverbs 15-19

Background

Today's reading ends the first section of 184 contrasts between wisdom and folly, which ends at the end of chapter 15, and begins the 191 proverbs (going through 22:16) that apply wisdom to life.

Devotional - A Healthy Diet

"You are what you eat."
"Garbage in; garbage out."

These are modern-day proverbs that draw life principles from our observation of everyday life. We see that people who eat well tend to feel good and be healthy, while those who gorge on the wrong foods tend to feel those effects. If the data we feed into a computer is garbage, the results we get from that computation will also be garbage. What we feed our bodies or our computers has consequences.

But what we feed our minds and our hearts is just as consequential. Solomon knew that nearly 3000 years ago and reminded us of the principle in Proverbs 15:14.

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

    but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

The discerning mind, the mind focused on knowing God's word, distinguishing right and wrong and doing the will of God, is going to seek out knowledge - not only general knowledge but specifically the knowledge of the God learned through his word.

But the fool, the one who is intent on going his own way, doing his own thing and living for himself, is going to feed on the foolishness of life. He will listen to the wisdom of the world instead of the truth of God.

These two people will both learn the truth of the principle of this proverb. Garbage in and garbage out. The mind that is fed the world's garbage will produce a harvest of sin and folly. The mind that is focused on Christ and on the word will produce a harvest of righteousness.

I know that I need to watch my diet and choose my food more carefully. But much more importantly, I need to guard my mind and my heart, focus them on the word of God and resist feeding them the refuse of this sinful world.

Father, may my mind and heart be your sanctuary. May I so feed on your word that I truly "become what I eat." 

Think and Pray

Do you feed your mind and heart carefully with the knowledge of God?