Buffet or Buffet?

English is a great language. So few other languages in the world are derived from so many different languages; this is the case especially for American English. We have a knack for making totally different words sound exactly the same, even though they are spelt differently (for example, there, their, and they’re). Also, we have words that have one spelling but several different meanings like the word buffet. It could be, according to Dictionary.com, a large sideboard with drawers and cupboards; to contend against, to battle, or strike with a fist; or a meal laid out on a table or sideboard so that guests may serve themselves. When words come up like this, the only way that we can know the meaning is to look at the context. In the ASV Bible, Paul says, “I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected” (1 Cor. 9:27). He does not mean that he is stuffing himself full of roast beef, boiled cabbage, and buttered rolls at Fred’s. Instead, he battles daily against his flesh and the desires thereof, so that he might not fall into temptation. Sometimes we get these two words mixed up and instead of bringing our bodies into subjection, we stuff them with every desire that they have.  

The Sunday Buffet

Sunday is the day of buffeting. Sunday morning, we buffet (bring into subjection) our bodies just enough to get out of bed and get ourselves to worship, and then after we go to a restaurant and buffet (stuff silly) our bodies until all we can do is drive home and take a nap. Many times after this first day of the week ritual, there is not enough buffeting left for anything else until the next week. You see controlling ourselves takes time and effort, and after a while of doing this, we get exhausted and need a break so that we can do the things we want to do. Watching TV, playing golf, going fishing, or taking a vacation doesn’t take much buffeting because these are things that we enjoy doing. Also for many of us, we must buffet our bodies and minds so that we can work forty or so hours a week. That’s a lot of buffeting. So when the weekend comes, those things we like to do, for me it’s taking a nap, are front and center on our list of things to do. By now, the only buffet we want to think of is Jimmy Buffett and relaxing with a cool glass of sweet tea and imaging sandy beaches and palm trees.

Bring into Subjection

This is what Paul said what the buffeting was for. Probably the greatest example of what a Christian should be, save Christ Himself, was to worry that if he did not keep his desires under control that they might get the best of him and he would , as the NKJ puts it, “become disqualified,” and lose his salvation. We should not have to bring our bodies into subjection so that we might meet at least once a week with the saints. This should be a desire of ours, something that comes natural and is enjoyable, not burdensome. The constant controlling of ourselves should be focused on the things of this world, the things that seem pleasurable at the time but in the end sting like a wasp. We do it every day, whether we know it or not. We guard what we say and what we do at work or school even when things are not going well. This is something that we should think about in all that we do. If we look at the world from the perspective of the Bible and remember what God expects of us, we will save ourselves much grief in the end.