In today’s instant solution society, shortcuts to the “good life” abound…
Get rich quick schemes vs. old fashioned hard work.
Crime vs. education.
Lottery tickets vs. a savings account.
Quick weight loss fads vs. a changed lifestyle.
Watching the movie vs. reading the book.
Junk food vs. cooking a healthy meal.
Sermon recordings vs. in depth self study.
Juice vs. eating the whole fruit.
Certainly all these things in moderation are not bad. But when our entire life is bent on taking the short cut, we will miss some important lessons the world has to offer.
As suggested by my title, let’s consider fruit juice for example…
Weighing the pros and cons of fruit vs. juice, it seems whole fruit (and vegetables for that matter) win. Here are some points to consider:
- Many commercial juices remove the fiber from the fruit to make juice; so you lose a nutrient rich, disease fighting component.
- Some “juice drinks” add sugar or are made from concentrates with not much nutritional value at all!
- Loads of research shows that beverages do not register in the same way as foods do in terms of filling us up. So, if you have a weight loss or weight loss maintenance goal, stick to the chewable food!
- For the pros on the juice side, if you are having a hard time eating the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables, and if you have a home juicer THAT PRESERVES THE FIBER, this might help you increase your intake. To make a healthy juice simply use 3 vegetables to every 1 fruit and do not add additional ingredients like sweeteners, protein powders, etc.
The point I’m trying to make is so often we want someone else to do the hard work for us but we still get all the benefits. The only place I can think where that really works is in the case of our Spiritual Inheritance, which Jesus died to give us. We didn’t have to do anything, just accept the work that Christ did for us on the cross.
A firm foundation is built on growth, not rushing. Growth, whether plant growth, muscle growth, or mind growth is governed by natural laws. It can’t be forced beyond previous preparation. Each day’s growth prepares for the next day’s growth. We can’t break nature’s laws, but often break ourselves trying. ~ Anonymous
Let’s make a commitment to dig in, and go deeper in the Lord; not depending on someone else’s study and hard work to summarize for us. But take our own time and effort so we will learn and grow.
It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the flood waters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. ~ Luke 6:47-48 NLT
