You’ve probably seen the Snickers commercials about a person who turns into something crazy just because they haven’t eaten. Yet of course, upon the magical bite of a Snickers Bar®, life is suddenly better. I think Hershey had it right with this ad. When I don’t eat, it is best if everyone just backs away.
Today was one of those days. I had to rush out of the house with no breakfast at all to get to my first meeting at 7:20 AM (I didn’t even get my coffee or my quiet time because my daughter was losing her ever-loving-mind). I hopped in the car, only to get frustrated with all the other drivers who were not doing anything wrong. I then arrive at my appointment, only to be curt with the gentleman I was meeting with; I left him quickly as if I had a country to go run. I got to the office and staff member after staff member gave a pleasant “Good Morning” greeting. All the while I responded like Shrek on his worst day and put off the vibe (somewhat intentionally) that there is nothing “Good” about “Morning.”
It wasn’t until I finally ate at lunch that my whole demeanor changed. I suddenly became nicer, less irritable, and more willing to see the good in others.
It would be easy for me to say, “Well, I was just Hangry…”. I believe that being hangry is a real thing. Our minds need fuel; God designed or physical bodies to need sustenance. When we do not get the nutrients that we so desperately need, we experience mood swings, lack of clarity and fatigue.
However, it is never okay to blame our poor treatment of others on a lack of food. The reality is that while we have died to sin (Rom. 6:5-8), we still go on living in our physical bodies. Paul, the author of Romans, admits with a question that this is not an easy thing – “If we have died to sin, how are we to go on living in it?” (v. 2). While controlling my physical cravings can be hard at times, I know that I have been made spiritually alive in Christ (Gal. 2:20) and must work with Him to keep my physical bodies in obedience to God’s expectations for me. Therefore, it is not a sin to be hungry but if your actions cause you to be unloving toward others because you have not eaten, then you have crossed over to sin territory.
We are told to love others as we love ourselves (Mk. 12:31; Jn. 13:34). Therefore, if our hunger controls us to the point we are a monster toward others, we are sinning and must fix the situation and ask for forgiveness if we’ve hurt someone. So, let’s say you find yourself “Hangry” often like I do.
Here are some steps to take when “Hangry”:
- Say sorry to those who you hurt because you were “low blood sugar” or had not eaten. Acknowledge that your poor actions cannot be blamed on anything but your selfish heart. (I had to do this twice today)
- Pray and ask God for His forgiveness for treating another Image-Bearing individual of His creation with a less than kind and loving demeanor.
- Eat something. Realize that part of God’s common grace is the food He gives us. Go eat something. Keep healthy snacks on hand that you can eat when you feel your hunger overtaking you.
- Read 1 Corinthians 10:31 and remember that everything you do, whether eating, drinking or doing any mundane thing, you are you glorify God. Pray and ask God to help you live this out.
Today was full of “I am sorry for my attitude this morning” as well as a time of prayer in my car after lunch. God is gracious to forgive me, even when my physical body controls me. The cravings of my flesh are never an excuse to sin. Never. So, I will “Beat my body” to keep my soul right with God and my actions right with others (1 Cor. 9:27).
Hey, even if it means I grab a Snickers from time-to-time, I must live to glorify God in all my actions and attitudes.
