In her
book Food in Medieval Times, author Melitta Adamson writes of European
culinary delights in the Middle Ages. Wild game, pastries, puddings, and other
exotic foods illustrate the creative joy taken in food preparation. But with
all these wonderful entrées there was a problem—overeating. This tendency was
compounded by the Christian calendar, which abounded with fasts and feasts.
Abstaining from meals was often followed by gluttony.
To
address this problem, theologian Thomas Aquinas uplifted the Christian
character quality of temperance, calling it “a special virtue.” He saw how
self-restraint should extend to all areas of life.
For the
believer, temperance, or moderation, does not derive from sheer human
willpower. Instead, it comes from the Holy Spirit who gives us self-control:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23).
Self-control is the Spirit-produced quality that enables us to be “temperate in
all things” (1 Cor. 9:25).
Overindulgence in food, rest, work, recreation, ministry, and a variety of “good things” can be corrected only through the balance of self-control. Take a few minutes to ask God to produce that special virtue in you.
