Bread And Stones

Food is essential for physical growth and sustenance. However, even in cases of extreme hunger, stones are never an option. It is not only unprofitable to eat stones as a substitute for bread but it is downright harmful to health.

As it is for the body, so it is with our spirit and soul. We need spiritual nourishment for our growth and sustenance as we walk with the Lord.

‘Bread’ refers to essential substance; the intake of which supplies us with spiritual energy and strength. God has made bread available to us primarily in His Word. What we see however, is people choosing to consume stones in place of nourishing bread.

Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].

Isaiah 55:2 (Amplified Classic)

‘Stones’ refer to anything we take in that adds no spiritual value to us and can even be harmful to us. When we consume unwholesome content, we take in stones that are detrimental to our spiritual health.

This is especially important in a time and age where there is so much information to choose from – social media, music, movies, television, books etc. Our antennae for discernment must remain strong and our personal discipline must be unwavering as we interact with sounds and sights.

Paul’s admonition in Phillippians 4:8 can help us set a screening process to whatever content we’re faced with.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 (KJV)

Whether we admit it or not, the content and information we interact with become objects of our thoughts, where they either add to the renewing of our minds or cause us to disobey God and commit sin.

So, before we watch certain videos, see certain movies, laugh at seemingly harmless memes or skits, read certain books etc, we can ask ourselves the following questions: Is this content true? Is it honest and just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it of good report? Is there any virtue or praise to it?

Just as we see in the verse from Isaiah, quoted above; that which is not bread is not good and does not satisfy. Bread comes from consistent, diligent ‘eating’ of the Word of God.

Meditation helps us to ‘chew’ on it again and again, to extract all of the yummyness therein. Spirit-inspired content in books or movies can also provide us with wholesome nutrients. This is what is essential for us as Believers.

Similar to physical telltale signs of a person’s nutritional state, the content of our spiritual diet is evident in our day-to-day lives, and our spiritual health suffers when we feed on things which do not edify.

Beware of what you consume. Whatever is not bread cannot be bread.