“I have treasured the word of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

“More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10).

“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 cf. Deuteronomy 8:3).

Treasure

Food is necessary to sustain life. Survivalists speak of “the rule of threes.” Man can survive about three minutes without oxygen, three days without water, and three weeks without food. Each situation and each person is different. Some have survived well beyond these threes. However, food is necessary to sustain life.

In a typical day, most of us do not go all day without food. In fact, we generally eat multiple times a day.

How much do we treasure God’s word? How often do we feed on it? This year, let us treasure it more than our necessary food.

Desire

We desire certain foods. Many desire honey. Honey provides energy. Jonathan’s “countenance brightened” after eating honey (1 Samuel 14:26-30). John the baptizer ate honey (Matthew 3:4). Honey is sweet. “The exact makeup of each honey varies somewhat, but honey is generally composed of 80% sugar (fructose and glucose)” (Honey Versus Sugar – Which is Healthier? University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, usaex.usada.edu). It is considered sweeter to the taste than table sugar. “Honey is naturally sweeter than sugar, meaning less is needed to achieve the desired level of sweetness. For example, in baking, replacing one cup of sugar with three-quarters of a cup of honey can reduce sugar content while maintaining flavor” (Honey vs. Sugar: Why Honey is the Superior Sweetener, glorybee.com). I enjoy a little honey on a peanut butter sandwich.

How much do we desire God’s word? Is it sweet to us? This year, let us have a “sweet-tooth” for the word.

Live by

God taught Israel that man does not live by bread alone (Deuteronomy 8:3). He taught them humility. He taught them to depended on Him.

Jesus understood proper priorities. Obedience to God was more important than physical food (Matthew 4:4).

By what do we live? This year, let us prioritize God’s word and live by it.