Week 23, Proverbs 23

It is amazing to study the Word of God and realize that it speaks to me just as clearly as if I was being taught by Solomon himself.

As we begin our downward journey towards the completion of this book, I pray that you commit to staying on track with diligently studying each day just a small portion of the chapter. It seems to be the only place to find peace in a world filled with heartbreak, disappointment and pain.

God bless you for your dedication to studying His Truths. It is only there that we truly hear His voice speaking to us.

We begin this class in a little different format for we will start off with the physical healing portion. And our subject is: Emotional eating

Proverbs 17:22A merry (joyful) heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

Ezekiel 47:12Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

We must always relate the three aspects of our life: spirit, soul and body because we are three in one. When it comes to studying our digestive system, we must understand that digestion begins in the brain.

Think about the following:
I am going to serve - Chewy double chocolate fudge brownie (The mind envisions it and you heard me describe a food)

Now see the following: (Eyes see it)

Now smell the following: (Nose smells it)

As soon as you heard me say: chewy double chocolate fudge brownie your mind began the digestion process.

As soon as you hear a food mentioned, your mouth begins to salivate.

Now if you think about food, your mouth is salivating for food and your brain is telling you to eat.
If you see food, your eyes are telling you to eat.

If you smell food, your nose is telling you to eat.

So it is your brain that is responsible for you overeating along with the eyes and nose. What would be the simplest way to lose weight?

Get your mind off of food. Keep your ears from hearing about food; keep your eyes from seeing food, and keep your nose from smelling food.

Simple right?

This even gets more complicated. Our Nervous System (emotions/soul) is directly related to our Digestive System. Think about some of the diseases of the Digestive System: colitis, ulcers, constipation, and indigestion. What causes these diseases?

Nerves; being upset, worry, anger, bitterness, fear, anxiety.

Within the Digestive System are nerves which are lined with soft tissue and muscles that guide the food from the mouth to the anus.

The true purpose of these nerves that flow through the body is to allow the body to absorb the nutrients it is receiving into the blood so the body can be properly nourished.

The problem is when our emotions are other than Proverbs 17:22 says: JOYFUL then we will bring disease to our body.

Example: When you are nervous about anything (fear), you say I have butterflies in my stomach. What happens when you have butterflies in your stomach? You either get nauseous or you get diarrhea. Why, because your Nervous system is directly correlated with your Digestive System.

You might hear a friend say: I am so upset I can’t eat a thing. When a person is going through a tough time in their life, they will either lose their appetite or they will eat everything in site.
Now this gets even more complicated because within the Digestive system are bacteria, yeasts, acids and other organisms that can either be harmful organisms or healthful organisms.
Unfortunately, due to the foods, stresses, and lifestyles that we lead our bodies are filled with harmful organisms.

This partially explains why we get constipated. Our nervous system (emotions) regulate our Digestive System. Our emotions are a huge contributed to our bowel function.

Say for instance you struggle with being overweight. The statement: Being overweight is a huge emotional wrecker. We spend our entire lifetime consumed with being overweight, underweight or the correct weight. From the time we are born, we are consumed with weight!

What is the first question a new parent is asked about the precious little newborn baby? How much did they weigh? If it is 8 plus pounds, we say…oh that is a BIG Baby. And from that day forward weight becomes the topic of conversation for that child. Doctors weigh the child and report some ridiculous percentage chart where your child is bell curved.

It is no wonder that preteens are taking weight loss pills.

Teenagers are having weight loss surgeries.

Adults are spending zillions of dollars annually to lose weight.

How many emotions have entered your head as we have discussed weight? Tons! Memories of your life are creating havoc in your digestive systems right now as we “think” about all this. Do the memories make you want to eat the brownie before you? Perhaps something salty and crunchy is that you prefer (like potato chips)? Have you been thinking that you want to “EAT” a brownie? Maybe you want to eat the entire plate. Are you that stressed right now?

It is all related.

Your relationship with food began the day you were born. You can trace that relationship back to memories from your childhood. How you connect your emotions and your food began a very long time ago.

Unless you “change” those connections and base your eating habit on The Word of God, you will continue to “think” and act according to your emotions.

Whenever you feel at peace, you do not eat harmful foods. Why is that? The food is used as a method of sedating us from pain.

Thus enters the spiritual aspects of all this.

No Jesus, No Peace! Know Jesus, Know Peace. Simple!
If nothing changes, nothing changes.

The Word of God has the answers to everything in your life. Stop trying to do life without it.
If you eat that brownie with Joy and peace it will be medicinal for your body and soul. If you eat it with any guilt, for reward, for sedation or any other twisted reason, it will wreak havoc in your body.

Guilt- sin
Reward – sin
Sedation – sin
Twisted thinking – sin

James 2:10For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all
Do you see?

Matthew 27:29When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!

A twisted crown of thorns was put on the head of Jesus to free you from all the twisted thinking that you have accumulated over the years.

By his stripes you are healed. Food cannot heal you.

Isaiah 53:5But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

1 Peter 2:24who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

Health and healing comes from His stripes.
Homework for Chapter 23
Due April 2, 2008

Homework questions are taken from the italicized New Century Version.
If you sit down to eat with a ruler, notice the food that is in front of you. Control yourself if you have a big appetite. Don’t be greedy for his fine foods, because that food might be a trick.

1. Eliminate the words “with a ruler” and then reread the Proverb. Every word in the Bible is relevant to your life. What tricks do foods play on you? Be specific.

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; be wise enough to control yourself. Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye. It can seem to grow wings and fly away like an eagle.

2. Ask yourself, “Why am I envious of those who have more wealth than I do”? Be specific. Have you ever known someone who lives like a pauper and is filled with joy and contentment? Wealth vanishes; it grows wings and flies away. Simplify by eliminating your stuff. Give it away. Don’t even try to turn it into “wealth” by having a yard sale unless you plan to give that money to the “unwealthier than you”. Strive to be wealthy in spiritual matters.

4. Don’t eat the food of selfish people; don’t be greedy for their fine foods. Selfish people are always worrying about how much the food costs. They tell you, “Eat and drink,” but they don’t really mean it. You will throw up the little you have eaten, and you will have wasted your kind words.

Have you ever told someone how much you paid for the food you are serving them? Perhaps you invite someone over for dinner and make a big deal about the cost of the prime rib/shrimp/salmon you have prepared. You say no I have never done that. How about this? You invite people over for dinner and complain to your husband (or yourself) how much it cost to feed them. Or you grumble (to yourself) at the cost of the whole grain bread you had to bring to the Way to Go Lightly pitch-in. Do stingy, selfish, or hypocrite describe you?
9 Don’t speak to fools; they will only ignore your wise words.

4. I believe this verse is telling us not to try to change a fool or convince them of anything. Examine your character and determine if you have spent time trying to change a fool or have tried to convince a fool of anything lately.

Define the word fool just to put your answer into perspective:
Don’t move an old stone that marks a border, and don’t take fields that belong to orphans. God, their defender (Redeemer), is strong; he will take their side against you.
Trying to acquire what others have is a sin. God defends only the righteous and obedient. Check your “change” barometer. Are you measuring the condition of your heart?

12 Remember what you are taught, and listen carefully to words of knowledge.

5. HOW do we do verse 12?

13 Don’t fail to punish children. If you spank them, they won’t die! If you spank them, you will save them from death!

This is similar to 22:15. Like I said earlier, I was not a spanker so I am not totally convinced it is a mandatory form of punishment. This version has a rather funny twist to it. THEY WON’T DIE. God is saying that discipline is crucial for saving the minds and souls of kids. Kids crave discipline. The hardest part of parenting is when you desire to “give” them all the blessings you can, but they do not deserve anything. Doesn’t our Father feel the same way about us? Feel free to comment on this verse. I am just rattling along.

15 My child, if you are wise, then I will happy. I will be so pleased if you speak what is right.
6. Wisdom and tongue. What is our Father saying to us again?

17 Don’t envy sinners, but always respect the Lord. Then you will have hope for the future, and your wishes will come true. Listen, my child, and be wise. Keep your mind on what is right. Don’t drink too much wine or eat too much food. Those who drink and eat too much become poor. They sleep too much and end up wearing rags.

7. What spiritual meaning does this verse have for me? Think it through thoroughly.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not forget your mother when she is old.

Learn the truth and never reject it. Get wisdom, self-control, and understanding. The father of a good child is very happy; parents who have wise children are glad because of them. Make your father and mother happy; give your mother a reason to be glad.

My mother and father are the absolute perfect example of being content with nothing. They both have nothing but both are happy and content. If you could see the size of their houses, the furnishings of their houses and the lack of stuff in their houses you would not believe anyone could live so impoverished. But you know I admire them. For so many years I was not a child who made my mother glad. It was because I was waiting for her to make me glad! How selfish was I? Very! What about you? Do you make your parents happy?

Vs 26 My son, pay attention to me, and watch closely what I do. A prostitute is as dangerous as a deep pit, and an unfaithful wife is like a narrow well. They ambush you like robbers and cause many men to be unfaithful to their wives.

8. OK, we are not deep pits, but are we a narrow well? How?

vs 29 Who has trouble? Who has pain? Who fight? Who complains? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is people who drink too much wine, who try out all different kinds of strong drinks. Don’t stare at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. Later it bites like a snake with poison in its fangs. Your eyes will see strange sights, and your mind will be confused. You will feel dizzy as if you’re in a storm on the ocean, as if you’re on top of a ship’s sails.

35 You will think, “They hit me, but I’m not hurt. They beat me up, but I don’t remember it. I wish I could wake up. Then I would get another drink.”

9. Take the yellow highlighted area and delete it. In its place, fill in what causes your trouble, pain, to fight, to complain, unnecessary bruises, bloodshot eyes. Be honest!