Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
Eating is a necessity for life, so, if you stop eating, you will eventually die. For most of us, it is one of the most enjoyable activities we do many times throughout the day, and the wonderful food choices in the world are too numerous to count. What happens when you eat too much food? If the body is unable to excrete the vast amount of food eaten, it is stored in your body as fat. You will eventually be able to see and feel the effects of eating too much. Through education from the medical community and others concerned with your health, you are able to modify and observe your diet for optimum health. But, what about your concern for your health? Can others make a difference for your health without your input? Absolutely not!!
Similar to everything you do, if there is no intrinsic motivation to do what’s best for you, no one can help you, except to force you. Most of us have goals in life for ourselves and loved ones, which motivates us to take care of ourselves. It boils down to this: Without hope, your purpose for living or existing wanes or decreases. You have to have a reason that is personal and motivating to get up everyday and do the things you do. What do many people do if school, work and home are filled with bad experiences, yet they are highly motivated to get up each day? They pick one or more activities during and after their bad experiences that will intensely satisfy their bodily senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and touching, like going to places that leave nothing for the imagination. Satisfying their bodily senses with like-minded individuals is even more satisfying since they are not alone, and it seems, the larger the group, the greater the experience.
Your Diet
Even though your diet consists of the most wonderful foods in the world eaten in correct portions for your health, you will not experience life. We are told in John 6:26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” Jesus knows that you need to eat food to live, but He makes it clear that the food you are eating spoils and cannot endure to eternal life. The life you are living by just eating food in the world is a temporary, empty existence, so the world provides you with all kinds of activities everyday, just to try to keep you happy. If you want eternal life, while eating and living in this world, you need to start eating His Word also, and by the way, this additional food won’t mess with your diet! Trust me!
What am I talking about, you may ask? Here is another Scripture that provides an answer.
Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Eat Not Only Bread, But Feed On The Word of God!
Jesus states that you should not just live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Jesus is saying that what God says is what you should be feeding on, not just bread or food in the world. In John 6:26-27, Jesus calls this “food that endures to eternal life”, which is the Word of God. Jesus gives us some hints on the benefits of feeding on God’s Word: His Word is food that never spoils; His Word is food that endures; His Word is food that leads to eternal life; and His Word through His Son, Jesus is freely given. Galatians 5:1 states, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” God the Father has approved, Jesus, His Son to give you His Word as food (John 6:27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”)
Benefits of Feeding On God's Word
Finally, let us briefly unpack the benefits of feeding on God’s Word.