Not too long ago, I was thinking about why we pray before a meal. Is it just a tradition? I'm very thankful for the food I get to eat, but I'm also very thankful for everything else God daily provides for me. So why give thanks before we eat? What is it really about?
Reading and thinking on 1 Timothy 4:3-5 gave new meaning and great joy to me in praying before a meal.
Let's back up a bit and get a context for why Paul is writing these verses in the first place.
The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods...
1 Timothy 4:1-3a
Ok, that's interesting. It's obviously serious, too. And?
...and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. vs. 3-5
The first mention of food in the Bible is way back in the beginning, when God created the world and everything in it. Then God said (to Adam),"I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:29
Later God told Moses, "Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. Genesis 9:3
These verses show that food is a gift from God. He gave it to us... way back then... and always now. And it's a good gift! Mmmmm... I like this gift.
God created food to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. Sometimes I'm so hungry and excited to eat. This was the case last Saturday night. When dinner was served, I certainly ate that delicious meal with joy and thanksgiving!
"Thank You for this food," we say as we pray. That's a good thing to do. We read that Jesus also gave thanks for food.
When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Luke 24:30
In Timothy 4:5 Paul writes that food is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. God has declared food as good and even "sacred." Further, it's consecrated by prayer - by the words we say.
God gives us the good gift of food. We get to receive it with thanksgiving. We also have the amazing privilege to consecrate - bless - our food; to agree with God in what he says about food. It's not a trite exercise or meaningless tradition to say grace. We are participating in God's gift and plan for us.
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