I like a cup of strong coffee. I like it with creme. And I like it with sugar.
There is nothing ‘good’ about adding sugar to my coffee, except that it tastes good. Adding simple sugar to anything is not good for my health. I’ve known this for years, but I still do it. I have all but stopped drinking soda because of the acid and sugar in it… and what it does to my body, but I have not been able to stop using sugar in my coffee.
In this light, I’ve been dwelling more and more on the truth that my body houses the Spirit of God. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” 1 Corinthians 6:19 In this letter to the Corinthians, Paul continues to say “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20
In Romans 14:14, Paul also tells us, “I know and am convinced on the authority of the Lord Jesus that no food, in and of itself, is wrong to eat. But if someone believes it is wrong, then for that person it is wrong.”
So I know that it is lawful to eat any food, including sugar, but I know that sugar is not good for me and therefore, not good for God’s temple. Paul goes on to say “But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” Romans 14:23
If I know that my body is the temple of God’s Spirit and I know that adding sugar to my coffee is not good for my health, His temple, why do I continue to do it? Because I am more interested in enjoying my cup of coffee with sugar than I am about caring for the temple of the Holy Spirit. In this area of my life, I care more about me than I care about God. Period!
I want to glorify God in my body so I’m choosing to look at rolling into 2013 as an opportunity to do this better.
Journey with me as I struggle with this issue… this habit that I know is unhealthy, and that for me, is sinful.
Pause and Reflect
Is there a habit that you have that is unhealthy for your body, God’s temple?
Let’s take this journey, of changing an unhealthy habit, together.
Does it not depend on the type of sugar you are consuming? Sugar cane is an actual fruit, from which raw sugar is derived. The Lord has provided for us an abundance of variety of foods – vegetable, fruits and ground provisions. I am of the mindset that anytime man alters natural foods, the resulting product is inferior and should be avoided whereever possible. Refined sugar is just that. It is to be avoided. A cup of coffee with a moderate amount of raw sugar would be my preference.
You are very sensitive and correct. I have been forewarned in similar ways and did not listen to Gods warnings and pleadings. I should have listened to all the signs and common everyday little teachings that turned out not to be so little at all
Its been 7 years since you shared this. I hope you continued to grow and GOD pulled you from the flames! I hope you are gone from this world.
Amen that’s is very true. I am a pre diabetic my blood sugar is high I should be on a low carb diet which I have not doing. I went to 50th Anniversary party I ate a piece of cake I should not had I have been convicted. I knew it was a sin. I asked the Lord for forgiveness. Next time I need to prepare. I need to practice self control.
What about the little things though. It’s easy to stop the obvious. Donuts, ice cream, cake, pies, etc.
What about salad dressing, yogurt, ketchup. There are tons of things with sugar in them. To totally stop eating white sugar alone you would pretty much have to make everything from scratch.
Dale, I understand your concern. The scripture about your body is the temple of the holy spirit has been used for many years and for many things, such as smoking etc.. But the scripture in context actually alludes to the linking of your body with a prostitute. Paul says you become one flesh with her. I see this scripture in two contexts: 1. I Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells within you.If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
I believe Paul is speaking collectively to the Corinthian Church and not to just to a single member of the congregation. This is a scripture I believe applies to the entire church and is assurance of God’s protective concern for the church.
The other scripture in I Corinthians that refers to the body being the temple of the holy spirit is I Corinthians 6:15, Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make those members to a prostitute. Never! Do you not know that anyone who is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, “the two shall be one flesh.” But anyone who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Shun fornication! Every sin a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself or do not know that your body is A Temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body.
I believe this scripture, in context, refers to the individual christian, but the context is joining your body with a prostitute which Paul sees as severe. You’ve joined yourself to her and have become one flesh.
I don’t think that these scriptures apply to your use of sugar or sugar substitutes. I have a friend who is a Charismatic Christian and it seems to me that 80% of his decisions he leaves to the Holy Spirit, even if the decision sometimes includes me. I have to stop him and say, “wait a minute, what is my choice in the matter”. He’s a good friend and is almost never been offensive to me.
These promptings could be from your emotions. It does not sound like something your conscience is raging against or something like that.
I’ve heard at least three different opinions about my smoking habit. One pastor said God’s not going to send you to hell for smoking a cigarette. Another said it is a weakness but did not consider it a sin. He was a heavyweight pastor. The Bible Answer Man, Hank Hannegraff (sp.) said he did not think it was a sin but that it would certainly get you to heaven quicker.
Maybe your being overly sensitive here. My friend that I mentioned has a cup of coffee every morning. He does not like to have two because he feels if grieves the Holy Spirit. My own personal opinion is that a good sugar substitute, which you may want to research, would not be harmful to you.
You make the decisions but be aware that you could possibly be a little over emotional.
Scriptures say our bodies are not out own and that we are bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
I look at my smoking as a sin sometimes, but I know it are harmful to my health. Life Line Screening Prevention said if I don’t quit smoking, their is a likelihood I will live to about 70, because of the danger of a possible heart attack or cancer. I will quit. I’m hoping soon. Sugar is a health hazard on some peoples blood sugar, or pre diabetes diagnosis. I do not think a safe substitute would do harm. Maybe it’s the second cup of coffee your not suppose to drink.
Have some fun today. Look up and feel the sun, a new day has begun. Tomorrow will make it clear, why your star should guide us here (Astronomy not Astrology). The fellow wants to join the Royal Society in England. A special society for Scientists. Sir Issac Newton was president for a few years. Now it’s probably the most prestigious science society in the world.
Thanks for caring,
Sincerely,
Robert W.
great article – not only about the the health benefits to our temple, I was convicted of coffee just because of the additive nature of it, and it became some you have to have to sooth the savage beast, and i did not have anything to have a hold of me. so that is one less thing to have a hold of me. smile. everyone is different and will have different triggers. Awesome we can share our views to help others.
The Holy Spirit has told me not to drink coffee at all, not even decaf. Even when I have tried to get decaf, something has happened to me that I knew God was sending a signal that He was saying, ” no”. Like when I ordered at McDonald’s, but had to wait for it. Or once I had decaf coffee at a Sunday dinner at church and I felt the Holy Spirit was disappointed. I think God has told me to only drink purified water between meals, but I am having a hard time with that. I don’t think He wants Splenda, aspartame, saccharin or for that matter , even Stevia. ( I tried buying a big bag, but I get signs I’m not supposed to). Sometimes, things drop or if I’m out buying food I’m not supposed to have, I’ll drop something on the way into the convenience store or the store, or I’ll drop my debit card or the debit card won’t work the first time ( and it works at other places) and they have to swipe it again and then if it won’t swipe the second time and they have to punch the numbers in, I really know God is giving me a nudge that this is not what He wants me to do at this moment! Anyhow, I also have a certain way God has told me to eat, so I’d be interested in knowing how God tells others, to see if I could ever find anyone that He has led in my way.
I too used to put sugar in my coffee and I smoked many years ago. When I discovered (my personal revelation) that my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, I was able to quit both. As with anything in Scripture, unless it is your own revelation,it may be the truth,but unless it is your revelation, you will find it hard to live it out. Side note-I now use honey in my coffee, try it, you will like it.