Babies, Bottles & Banana Pudding
In June 2012, our family traveled to WV to attend my nephew’s graduation as well as celebrate my mother’s 89th birthday. Many of Mom’s 20 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren were able to attend, which was a blessing to her! With all the babies and toddlers around, there was a whole lot of bottle feeding, spoon-feeding, and cutting up of food going on. Even though the five youngest great-grandchildren at that time were very close in age (all born in 2011), there was already a noticeable difference in their cuisine. Some were still quite content with baby food and bottles; others were being introduced to a few table foods while older ones were on table food and sippy cups exclusively. After eating their “good food”, I watched several getting their first taste of Rebecca’s banana pudding…mmmm! With all the different stages, there was one thing in common – they were all eating…and definitely growing!
When those little ones got hungry, they made sure everyone knew that it was time for them to eat! Of course, we would be concerned if they never showed any interest in eating, wouldn’t we? Such is the case in our spiritual lives. It is natural for a thriving child of God to have an appetite for spiritual food. It is also natural for Christians to be gradually moving from the milk of the Word to eventually adding meat to their diet.
A lack of appetite for God’s Word could signal spiritual apathy. It is at these times that we need to “force the fluids”. (Does anyone else remember trips to the store for Sprite or possibly Pedialyte?) Feeding on God’s Word even on days when the desire may not be there is so vital for continued growth. Failure to do so will result in spiritual dehydration. This weakening of our spiritual man leaves us more susceptible to Satan’s attacks.
Of course, another reason for no interest in spiritual food could mean we are full of banana pudding! Setting aside time every now and then for good, clean fun or relaxation can be enjoyable, but a life of living for pleasure will result in spiritual sickness. Over the years, I have had parents ask me how they can get their children to read and my advice to them was “turn off the TV; unplug the video games, etc.” I have found that when distractions were removed, my children would naturally turn to reading. Applying this spiritually, we need to be careful to limit the “banana pudding” to special times, making sure the “good food” of God’s Word is our main diet.
You know, I can remember a time when some of the parents of these babies were very young and on a “milk only” diet. Now, they are feeding their own children.
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14