Balanced Food For The Soul

God's word is said to be food for the soul (Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4). The apostle Paul told the brethren in Corinth that his teaching had been of an elementary nature to them, because they were still spiritual babies (1 Corinthians 3:1-2).

In eating physical food, we need to consider that the body must receive the proper balance of nutrition so that it can properly function. If the food we consume is too rich, the body cannot properly receive it, and thus we become sick. If the body consumes too many carbohydrates, it becomes overweight, causing and increased risk of diabetes, heart attack, or stroke.

Too many people seek an improper balance of spiritual food as well. They are similar to spoiled children who refuse to eat anything except candy and various other sweets. They feel that their spiritual palates must be constantly entertained.

These folks will never advance beyond the baby stage, regarding their spiritual growth and development. They never want to graduate to the "meat" or the "solid food" of the Word. They are happy just to consume the milk (Hebrews 5:13-14; 1 Peter 2:1-2; cf. Hebrews 6:1-2).

Dear reader, in our study of the Bible (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV), let us have balanced food for the soul, consisting of both the milk and the meat of God's word.  Only then will we properly develop into spiritually mature Christians (Ephesians 4:11-15; Hebrews 5:14), able to teach others the saving gospel of Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets