We need more than one kind of nourishment if we are to thrive for God
By Dean Collins
“Not by bread alone.”
It’s good advice for a healthy diet. Bread alone means lots of carbohydrates, and a menu of all carbs will probably lead to some sort of health issue. At least that is what the thousand diet and menu options of January suggest.
Some “experts” say not by meat alone or meat at all. Some diets stress fiber, some fruit and vegetables, some say the Mediterranean diet is the best. We are told to eat less and exercise more, only eat when we are hungry, practice intermittent fasting, and on and on. This time of year one might feel guilty to eat at all, especially after all the treats consumed during the Christmas and New Year’s celebrations.
Hungry
But as you have already figured out, Jesus was not in a conversation with Satan about a balanced diet. In fact, you might argue that Jesus was rejecting balance altogether. We will get to that in a second.
The setting is familiar to churchgoers and Bible readers. The phrase “not by bread alone” is often used in literature, comedy, advertising, and everyday conversation. Jesus had just heard his Father’s voice from Heaven: “This is my dearly loved Son who gives me joy” (or “with whom I am well pleased”). It was a powerful word of blessing and affirmation from God. Now, just a few weeks later in the wilderness, as Jesus was fasting and praying before launching his earthly ministry, the enemy brings a fresh attack. We read of three temptations in Matthew 4, but we have no idea how many ways or lesser attempts Satan may have tried. (We likely also miss many of the enemy’s attacks on us as well.)
Matthew tells us here that Jesus was hungry. The length of his time of fasting and prayer was 40 days, a severe test for a physical body’s ability to survive. Not to make light of the test, but we can’t live by prayer alone, either. While we are in the body we do need calories for fuel. At the same time, Jesus knew that a healthy diet would not prepare him for the mission he was sent to do. Only spiritual strength that comes from prayer and fasting could prepare him for what he would face in the months ahead.
Walking alone with God for 40 days in prayer prepared Jesus not only for his mission but also strengthened him for the attacks from Satan. Jesus quickly spoke the truth of scripture to defeat the temptations Satan attempted.
Balance?
So are we looking for balance when it comes to dealing with the enemy? The right amount of food and the right amount of God’s Word in equal proportion? I doubt that Jesus was teaching anything about balance of time, energy, or rest in this instance. His focus was solely on God to provide the resources to prepare him for ministry, to sustain him to the end, and to fight off the enemy attacks that would come not just in the wilderness but often in the days ahead.
We can build a case for a balanced life and the importance of feasting, celebrations, rest, and more. But there is no balance to preparation for dealing with the enemy. There is also no balanced approach when it comes to our reliance on God to meet our needs. God is the giver of life and of all good things. He alone is our source of spiritual vitality and victory.
Lord, today we ask forgiveness for the many times we have attempted our daily tasks of life and ministry with only our own strength and resources. Our desire is to walk and live in and by your Spirit that our work may bring you glory and draw others to you. We claim the truth from your prophet Zechariah: “not by power, nor by might, but by your Spirit.” Today we leave this moment in the power of your Spirit to take on the tasks before us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your time with God’s Word
Matthew 4:3-4; 11:18-19; Zechariah 4:6 NLT
Photo by cottonbro studio at Pexels.com
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