Don't live on bread alone

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Clement of Alexandria (c.150-211/216).Image via Wikipedia
It is my conviction that a very large part of mankind’s ills and of the world’s misery is due to the rampant practice of trying to feed the soul with the body’s food. Jesus in His confrontation with Satan reminded us for all time of Moses’ proper distinction: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Job had also made the distinction: “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread” (23:12b).
In addressing the gluttony of his day, Clement of Alexandria said, “The right food is thanksgiving.” He perceived that in the yearning for food and drink we mingled the deeper yearnings of the soul. In Paul’s day the mingled yearnings disgraced the Lord’s Supper in Corinth, and he counseled the Christians there to eat and drink to the glory of God. The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins by stating that “man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.” But if man misses the enjoyment of God, he seeks substitute enjoyments. And there lies the mischief. From this lamentable substitution the church is not immune. Nor are her leaders.


Another theologian has flatly declared that one who takes theology courses is spiritually sick unless he reads the Bible uncommonly often.


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