Health & Beauty - 6. Watch Out!

This was the 6th of 10 articles published in ConXion magazine's Health and Beauty Section in 2010.

“Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim 4:8).

How are you? Is it cold where you are? Are you enjoying the selection of winter dishes and fruits? My kids are enjoying strawberries but missing mangoes. Are you still getting up early for that walk or is it a bit chilly? We have covered a lot this year so far: Get a diary, weigh in, stock up, metabolise, resist and now 6. Watch Out!

And this article is inspired by a tiny phrase I guarantee you will all hear this week if you listen out – “Just one”. You might hear it at morning tea, in the supermarket, at coffee, at home, or in your head.

Are you the type of person who can not stop at just one?

Just one biscuit. Just one cup. Just one slice. Just one minute. Just one day.

‘Just one’ is never enough! If I buy into the lie of ‘just one’ I end up compromising everything I have worked for that day, that week or that month!

If I am working towards my physical health, I have to realize what certain foods do to my body and my hunger. If I eat sugary or highly processed carbohydrates, I crave more of the same. A packet of fruit Mentos or some McDonalds fries and a Coke make me feel good temporarily, but not for very long, and I end up eating more of that kind of stuff.

And if I compromise on spiritual values such as loyalty, honesty and integrity, it gets easier and easier to do worse and worse. So, for me, it is way healthier and easier for me if I don’t.

Allowing just one untruth can lead to lying. Sharing just one story can lead to gossip. Taking just one look can lead to lust. Saying just one word can lead to slander. ‘Just one’ is a temptation I cannot afford to entertain. The consequences far outweigh the immediate gratification.

In terms of your indulgence in unhealthy food, the consequences vary between individuals but if you indulge in unhealthy behaviour, the consequences will slowly but surely lead down the same path. If we are physically unhealthy we are unable to function efficiently and if we are indulging in sin – going our own way instead of God’s way – our relationships with God and with others suffer.

It is possible to stop at just one, or not start at all – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

So next time you are tempted to have ‘just one’ or ‘just one more’ stop and think about the consequences, look for that way out and ask our awesome God for a helping hand.