And
everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,
but we for an imperishable crown. -1
Corinthians 9:25 NKJV
A
while back I was driving through Houston, TX and stopped at a Drive-In
Store (Convenience Store). You know, the kind that has just
about everything. I was alone, and no
one there knew me.
As
I walked in, I began thinking of the things there I could not have.
They
had beer and all kinds of alcohol. But I
could not have that.
They
had dirty magazines. I stay away from
that.
They
had tobacco, but I don’t smoke or chew.
Lottery
tickets, but I don’t gamble.
They
had all manner of candy (Snickers, Milky Way, Reese’s, Butterfinger, 5th
Avenue…). I’m diabetic so I could have
none of that. That included kettle
cooked jalapeno potato chips, pretzels. They
say bread and chips just turn to sugar; it’s not fair. Sadly, I could have no Little Debbie Cake
Rolls.
I
could not even get an icee (frozen drink) or a regular soft drink; too much
sugar. I just can’t win!
So,
I kind of laughed at myself, bought a Diet Dr. Pepper (sugar-free soft drink)
and left. And hey, I did save a lot of
money.
Some
may argue that’s legalism. No, it’s just
being prudent and wise (Proverbs 22:3;
Romans 16:19). Self-destructive behavior
is, well, self-destructive. We are to be
temperate in all things.
The
Sunday School Helper of 1896 wisely quoted, “Temperance is the moderate use
of all things helpful and total abstinence from all things
harmful.”
So,
as I raise an ice-cold Diet Dr. Pepper, here’s to you. May you live a wise, prudent, productive
life.
-David
R. Brumbelow, gulfcoastpastor.blogspot.com, November 5, AD 2019.
PS
– I will admit my eating habits are not perfect, but I’m sincerely striving to
do better. I do eat my fruits and vegetables
and drink V8 (vegetable juice). It seems
all life is a discipline.
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