Small Morsels Along the Way

I have found during my runs that a small treat can pay huge dividends. There are always moments during a longer run in the hills when I feel tired and want to stop. At those moments a treat can do absolute wonders! The summers are great for this as there are raspberries or blueberries to be found. I am amazed at how a little bite of something sweet can lift my spirits, providing a boost of energy which is just enough to help me continue running.

I feel there is something of an analogy here for our faith journey. At times this can be hard going, and we might be tempted to quit. But God provides small blessings along the difficult paths. He might not take all the difficulties away, but He will give us what we need, even though these blessings only feel at the time like the tiniest of morsels on an arduous journey. It is important to discover these small treats and how to benefit from them.

There is a very telling story in 1 Samuel 14. King Saul declares rashly and unwisely that none of the Israeli soldiers can have food or drink until he is avenged. Jonathan was not aware of his father’s foolish oath and eats some honey. Immediately ‘his eyes brightened’. Just a bit of honey on a long hard day restored his body and soul.

When he finds out this was forbidden by his father, Jonathan says, “My father has made trouble for the country. See how my eyes brightened when I tasted a little of this honey. How much better it would have been if the men had eaten today some of the plunder they took from their enemies. Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been even greater?”

It is interesting that, because the soldiers were forced to obey Saul’s command, they ended up sinning against the Lord’s commandments. They got so hungry that, after winning the battle, they lost their patience and ended up eating meat with the blood in it. Not kosher at all!

When God provides us with small, innocent pleasures, we gain nothing by declining them. In fact, it will make it harder for us to resist the temptation to find comfort in sinful things. This is what today’s scripture from Colossians also shows. Harsh treatment of ourselves does not lead to holiness. It might fill us with religiosity and a sense of pride, but it cannot make us grow strong spiritually. Then, when hard times come, we will be more prone to look to unhealthy, unholy pleasures, instead of the healthy and wholesome ones the Lord provides.