"Do not covet his delicious food"

[Proverbs 23:1-8]

Do you know what the most delicious foods in the world are? I came across an article based on a Facebook survey where more than 33,000 people participated over the course of three weeks. The article presented the “50 Most Delicious Foods in the World” according to the survey (Internet). Looking at this article, I noticed that the top 10 foods from the list of the 50 most delicious foods in the world were all from Eastern cuisines. The 1st, 2nd, and 6th positions were occupied by Indonesian foods. These were dishes I had never tried or even heard of before. However, familiar foods like Japanese sushi and ramen were in the 3rd and 8th positions, respectively. Thai food, pad thai, was in 5th place. As for Korean food, kimchi and bulgogi ranked 12th and 23rd, while Vietnamese pho was 20th, and Mexican tacos were in 27th place.
Everyone, wouldn’t you like to try these delicious foods? If you’re hungry, I’m sure you would want to eat them. So, why do we feel hunger? The reason is that our body is signaling us to consume something because it lacks energy. This feeling of hunger is said to arise from two main mechanisms. One is related to blood sugar levels, and the other occurs when the stomach is empty. Professor Kim Sang-man, a leading authority in chronic fatigue, detoxification, obesity, and clinical nutrition from the Cha University Anti-Aging Research Institute, says, “When our brain detects a drop in blood sugar, it stimulates the appetite center, which is exactly the feeling of hunger we experience.” When we feel this hunger, it triggers the desire to eat. The situation where the stomach is empty, as we all know, is when we hear gurgling sounds coming from our stomach. This is usually a sign that the stomach is empty. Professor Kim explains, “When this happens, the stomach contracts and releases a hormone called ghrelin.” He adds, “When this hormone is transmitted to the brain, it triggers hunger, prompting us to seek food.”
But the real issue is, why do we overeat? Why do we fall into the temptation of food and end up eating too much? Professor Kim points to stress as the major culprit in overeating. The stress here is not just the emotional stress from a boss at work, but a broader concept. In other words, “Any situation that doesn’t go as planned is, knowingly or unknowingly, stress for our body.” For example, when we argue with someone or become angry, it clearly stresses our body. As a result, our body experiences a loss of energy, which is referred to as hypoglycemia. When this happens, the brain immediately sends a signal that it needs fuel, and what it needs is not fat or protein, but sugar. This is because our brain can only produce energy from sugar. This is why, in stressful moments, we tend to consume foods high in sugar in a hurry.
Another important secret behind stress that leads to overeating is related to hormones. Professor Kim explains, “When we experience stress, our body must release a substance that helps us overcome it.” That substance is serotonin. Therefore, to relieve stress, serotonin must be released, and only then can we survive and thrive in stressful situations. There are various ways to release serotonin: some people vigorously exercise, others eat spicy foods, drink alcohol, or even use drugs. Professor Kim says, “When we eat what we want, serotonin is released, which helps us overcome stress.” So, unknowingly, when we’re stressed, we tend to crave food (Internet).
In today’s passage, Proverbs 23:3 and 6, the Bible advises us twice: “Do not covet his delicious food.”
Today, I want to meditate on this passage and reflect on three lessons that God is teaching both me and you through these words.

First, what does it mean to "covet delicious food"?

In today’s passage, Proverbs 23:3 and 6, the writer of Proverbs says, "Do not covet his delicious food." Here, "do not covet his delicious food" refers to being a “glutton” (gluttons). Let’s look at the first half of verse 21: "For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty…" In this case, those who "covet food" are referred to as "gluttons" in English, and in Korean, this is translated as "overeating" or "excessive eating." The Latin word for "glutton" is “gluttire,” which means "to gulp down or swallow," referring to eating food quickly and noisily. It implies "over-indulgence," meaning to eat excessively, or "over-consumption."

In the Jewish Torah, there are 613 commandments, and the 169th commandment forbids overeating or overdrinking (Wikipedia). The Bible often speaks about the issue of coveting food. As we know, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah committed grievous sins, especially sexually immoral ones, against God. However, in Ezekiel 16:49-50, the prophet Ezekiel says: "The sin of your sister Sodom was this: She and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. They were haughty and committed abominations before me..." In this biblical passage, the prophet Ezekiel points out that one of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah was "excessive food" (overfed). In other words, they ate too much. Along with this, Sodom and Gomorrah are also described as having "prosperous ease" (unconcerned). This means that the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, having eaten too much and becoming full, were living in peace and comfort. This too was considered one of their sins.

As I reflect on this passage from Ezekiel, I remember verses from Deuteronomy 31:20 and 32:15, which I meditated on during last week’s early morning prayer: "When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, which I swore to give to their ancestors, and when they have eaten and are satisfied and grown fat, they will turn to other gods and despise me, breaking my covenant..." In Deuteronomy, Moses knew that when the people of Israel would enter the promised land of Canaan, they would eat to the full and become fat. In Deuteronomy 8, the Bible describes the land of Canaan as a "beautiful land" (v. 7), a land where the Israelites would lack nothing and have abundance (v. 9), a "land of fertile valleys" (v. 10). There, Moses knew that when the Israelites "ate and were satisfied, built fine houses, and lived in them" (v. 12), and when they prospered with silver and gold, their hearts would become proud, and they would forget God (v. 13-14). Specifically, Moses was concerned that the Israelites would say in their hearts, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth" (v. 17).

When reflecting on today’s passage, I realize that coveting delicious food leads to the same result as it did for the Israelites—eating to the full and becoming fat and prosperous, which ultimately leads to pride in one’s heart. In other words, coveting food is closely linked to the pride of the heart. When one covets food and becomes full and fat, it’s not just the body that grows, but the heart becomes swollen with pride. At that point, our natural instinct is to seek physical security in vain.

Jesus spoke about such people in Luke 12:19, saying: "And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.'"

Another biblical passage related to coveting food is Philippians 3:19: "Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. They set their minds on earthly things." The Bible says that the god of wicked people is their "belly" (stomach). In other words, wicked people are addicted to food and eating (Torrey).

Do you think people can become addicted to food? When we talk about addiction, we usually think about alcohol addiction, drug addiction, gambling addiction, or sex addiction. But nowadays, we also hear about internet addiction and shopping addiction. So, could food addiction really exist? According to a 2010 article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), it discusses the possibility that "food addiction" plays a significant role in the growing obesity epidemic of the 21st century. Obesity occurs when people consume more calories than they burn, and if this overconsumption of calories is compulsive and uncontrollable, some experts refer to this state as "food addiction" (Internet).

Therefore, the advice in Proverbs 23:3 and 6—"Do not covet his delicious food"—can be understood as a warning not to become addicted to food.

Secondly, whose delicious food does the Bible tell us not to covet?

In the passage today, Proverbs 23:3 and 6, the Bible says, “Do not covet his delicious food.” Who does the "his" refer to here? Look at verse 1: “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully who is before you.” In other words, the Bible is telling us not to covet the delicious food of a "ruler." And here, the "ruler" is not just any ordinary ruler, but a wealthy, luxurious ruler (MacArthur). This luxurious, wealthy ruler is an influential person (MacDonald). The Bible warns us not to covet the delicious food prepared by such a person when they hold a banquet.

However, this influential and wealthy ruler is described in verse 6 of today’s passage as a "man with evil eyes." The term “evil eyes” is a correct translation in the original Hebrew, but in the English Bible, it is translated as “a stingy man.” Why is this? The term “evil eyes” appears only one other time in the Old Testament, aside from Proverbs 23:6. It appears in Proverbs 28:22: “A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not consider that poverty will come upon him.” The Bible tells us that a person with "evil eyes" is so focused on obtaining wealth that they do not realize the consequences of their greed.

On the other hand, the opposite of "evil eyes" is "good eyes" (a good eye), which is mentioned in Proverbs 22:9: "A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor." In the English Bible, “a generous man” is the translation, because a person with "good eyes" is one who shares their food with the poor. However, a person with "evil eyes" does the opposite: they do not share their abundant food with the needy. The reason for this is that they are stingy. In other words, a person with "evil eyes" is a miser.

In Proverbs 23:7, the Bible describes such a miser in this way: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ but his heart is not with you.” (Modern translation: "He is always thinking first about the cost. Though he may say, ‘Come and eat,’ his heart is not with you.") In other words, the “ruler” mentioned in this passage is always thinking about the costs first. A person who is this stingy would host a banquet and serve food in a hypocritical manner, pretending to be generous, but their heart is never truly with us (verse 7). Such a person seeks to profit at the expense of the poor, while serving lavish meals to those wealthier than themselves, even offering bribes (Proverbs 22:16).

When I think of a miser in the Bible—someone who does not share their abundant food with others—I think of “Nabal,” the husband of the wise woman Abigail. Who was Nabal? Nabal was a man who lived in Carmel in Judah, and in 1 Samuel 25:2, it says he was "very rich, with three thousand sheep and one thousand goats." His name, "Nabal," means ‘fool’ (verse 25). In other words, he was "foolish" in the eyes of his wife, Abigail. And according to Abigail's words, Nabal was a "wicked man" (verse 25). Even Nabal’s servants told Abigail: "The master is such a worthless man that no one can talk to him" (1 Samuel 25:17). A man who could not even communicate, who was called "worthless" not only by his wife but also by his own servants, Nabal was "stubborn and evil in his deeds" (1 Samuel 25:3). He repaid David’s kindness with evil (1 Samuel 25:21). David had treated Nabal very kindly (verse 15) and had his young men protect Nabal’s servants and the sheep they were watching, so that nothing of theirs was lost (verses 15-16). However, Nabal, being wicked and stubborn, treated David’s messengers with contempt and scorn. When David’s servants came and said, "Let your servants find favor in your sight" (verse 8), and "Give whatever you have to your servants and to your son David" (verse 8), Nabal responded by saying, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away from their masters" (verse 10).

Everyone, when we dine with a stingy person, we must consider who is sitting before us. Even if they seem to treat us generously, we should not forget who they truly are. And we must remember not to covet the delicious food they serve us.

Thirdly, why does the Bible say, "Do not covet his delicious food"?

Look at Proverbs 23:3 in today's passage: “Do not covet his delicious food, for it is deceptive food” [(Modern Bible) “Even if he offers a feast, do not covet it. It could be a deceptive bait for you”]. The reason the Bible says not to covet the delicious food of the ruler is because that food is deceptive. In other words, that food could be a bait that deceives us.

Do you think food can be a deceptive bait? When I ask this question, I think of scenes from Korean dramas where a miserably rich man, living luxuriously, shares a meal with a politician. In these scenes, the rich person often serves the politician a meal, offering bribes in order to get what he wants. At that moment, the politician is seen eating with the rich person in order to accept the bribe. In the end, the rich person uses the food to get what he wants, and the politician falls for the bait of money, giving in to the rich person’s demands. We see both of them being led by greed.

In the end, the meal shared by these two people is not about the food itself; what matters is the motivation of their hearts. If a wealthy person offers you a meal with impure motives in order to gain something from you, how would you respond? If, during the meal, that person gives you a bribe to get what he wants, how would you handle it?

Look at 2 Peter 2:13: “They receive the wages of unrighteousness, and they count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in their own deceptions while they feast with you” [(Modern Bible) “In the end, they will receive the consequences of their evil actions. They delight in doing shady deals and are filthy people who deceive and indulge in pleasures even while sitting at the banquet with you”].

What does this mean? It means that false teachers who do not uphold the truth, covet food, and even deceive us while we sit together at a banquet. If we fall for their deception, when we later realize we’ve been deceived, we will feel so disgusted that we will throw up what we ate (Proverbs 23:8). Moreover, any words of gratitude we may have spoken to them will be in vain (verse 8). Therefore, we should not covet the delicious food of false teachers, because it is definitely deceptive food (verse 2).

Why do so many people fall for the “deceptive food” of false teachers? Why do so many people fall for the bait of the miserly rich person with an evil eye? Could it be because people are in need? When someone is desperate, without money, and in a situation where they have nothing, it becomes easier to fall for the bait of money thrown by a wicked rich person. However, a more convincing reason is that when our hearts are filled with greed, the bait of money becomes an irresistible temptation.

As Proverbs 23:4 says in today's passage, if we are “striving to be rich,” we are more likely to fall for the bait of money thrown by a wicked rich person. If we are striving to become wealthy, what should we focus on? Is it not wealth itself? (verse 5). 1 Timothy 6:9-10 says: “But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and into foolish and harmful desires. They fall into destruction and perdition. Those who love money and covet it are led astray from the faith, and pierce themselves with many sorrows. Therefore, the Bible says, “But you, O man of God, flee these things” (verse 11).

Dear all, in today's passage from Proverbs 23:4, the Bible says, "Do not weary yourself to gain wealth; cease from your own understanding" [(Modern Bible) "Do not try too hard to be rich, but have wisdom in self-control"].

We should not strive too hard to be wealthy, and we should abandon worldly wisdom. We need to reject the false wisdom of human methods that try to gather wealth, instead of following God's word. Here, the phrase “cease from your own understanding” is translated in the Modern Bible as “have wisdom in self-control.” When I reflect on this translation, I thought that we should have wisdom in self-control.

What does “wisdom in self-control” mean? We can think of it in two ways:

1. Wisdom in self-control means thinking carefully.
   We must think, but we must also consider who is sitting before us (v. 1). While eating together, we should think about the person sitting in front of us and consider what kind of person they are. In other words, we should spread our thoughts wisely and not let them roam freely, but think carefully and wisely. We need to exercise restraint in our thoughts. We should not just listen to someone’s words unconditionally and believe them, but instead, we should listen discerningly and try to understand the motivations of the other person's heart.

2. Wisdom in self-control means exercising moderation.
   Now, look at Proverbs 23:2: “If you are a person who desires to eat excessively, put a knife to your throat” [(Modern Bible) “No matter how much you crave, practice moderation”]. We need to exercise restraint not only in our thoughts but also in our food. Here, the restraint on food particularly refers to restraint in our hearts when we consider the context. Even if our wealth increases, we should not set our hearts on it (Psalm 62:10). Restraint of the heart means rejecting any kind of temptation to greed and maintaining a contented heart. If we do not practice restraint over our hearts, we will fall into the temptation of greed and become slaves to it.

To gain this wisdom in self-control, what should we do? Of course, the most important thing is to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). We should ask for wisdom and also earnestly seek the fruit of the Spirit, which is “self-control” (Galatians 5:23). In the process, we should deeply understand that desiring wealth is empty.

Look at Proverbs 23:5: “Why should you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven” [(Modern Bible) “Riches vanish; they spread their wings and fly away like an eagle”]. Therefore, we should not set our hope on wealth that will vanish (1 Timothy 6:17, Modern Bible).

Let’s conclude with some reflection. When we think that overeating will just make us fat, we often do not realize that, according to Professor Kim Sang-man, it is a dangerous habit that risks our very life (Internet). The reasons are twofold: one is that “overeating threatens the health of our blood vessels,” and the other is that “overeating produces a lot of free radicals.” “Overeating means consuming more energy than our body can use, and the excess energy has to be stored somewhere. That place is in the fat cells. As fat cells grow, they store the nutrients that we consume. However, there is a limit to how much these fat cells can store. When they can no longer store nutrients, those nutrients float through the blood vessels and cause various problems. Fat buildup in blood vessels can lead to high cholesterol, and sugar buildup in blood vessels can weaken them and cause internal bleeding. Therefore, overeating has become the root cause of many diseases in the 21st century... The food we eat uses oxygen to metabolize energy. But inevitably, some oxygen is left unburned and becomes free radicals. These free radicals are known to accelerate aging. They also indiscriminately attack our internal organs, causing chronic diseases. When we overeat, our body produces more free radicals, which are like lawless elements in our body. Professor Kim Sang-man emphasizes, ‘Preventing overeating is the most effective way to prevent aging and maintain health.’”

So how can we prevent overeating? There are four practical steps: eating slowly, ensuring proper serotonin secretion, avoiding foods high in sugar, and not developing a habit of craving umami flavors. “To avoid overeating, it is also necessary not to consume MSG in our daily lives. This is the key to breaking the temptation of flavor, and it is the shortcut to preventing overeating.” Professor Kim Sang-man says, “Today, everywhere around us seems like a paradise of salty, sweet, and delicious food,” and advises, “The wisdom for living in such an era is to eat food that is as tasteless as possible, and not eat if you’re not hungry.”

Dear friends, today’s Bible passage from Proverbs 23:1-8 commands us not to “covet his delicious food.” We should not covet the rich man’s lavish food. The reason is that this food is deceptive. It can become a trap that deceives us, and that is why we should not covet it. We should not strive too hard to be rich, but instead, we should have wisdom in self-control. We need to ask God for wisdom in self-control. Therefore, we should learn how to practice restraint, especially in our hearts. When we do this, we will be able to resist any temptation to greed and live contentedly with Jesus alone.