Can’t Eat Just One

Can’t Eat Just One

Not to show my age, but… there used to be this commercial for potato chips and the slogan was, “You can’t eat just one.” It was supposed to show everyone how amazing their chips were.

Challenge Accepted

I took it as a challenge. Yeah, I’m that person. Whenever I’d crack a bag open I’d try to eat just one simply on principle.

Guess how successful I was. Insert knowing chuckle and wagging head here. 

What I didn’t know then was that there was a reason that the slogan was true. It wasn’t just the salty goodness or crispy crackling flavor burst. It wasn’t even that Mom was Irish and I love me some potatoes. They were designed to be addictive.

Nothing New Under The Sun

In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon laments the fact that there is nothing new under the sun. Everything old is just repackaged and rebranded like the advertising for junk foods. When Cigarette companies realized that people weren’t buying as many cigarettes, they set to work buying up food companies. They hired scientists to find the most addictive additives and used their crack cigarette marketing teams to get people hooked on something else.

Nothing new – just rebranded. The objective was the same – make money by any means necessary.

Footholds and Faltering Faith

I’m not against making money – I could use some right now as a matter of fact but, it was this image that struck me as I read Ephesians 4 today. Verse 27 says, “Don’t give the devil a foothold.”

Well duh!

Who’s gonna do that on purpose?

But, footholds can lead to faltering faith. All you need to get up a steep hill, mountain, or rock wall is to find some good footholds. A skilled climber doesn’t need an escalator, elevator, or even a smooth path – just a series of footholds.

The devil’s been around a long time. His sin rebranding skills are top-notch. His knowledge of human nature has been perfected over millennia. All he needs is a foothold.

The Problem

Chip challenges aren’t the problem.

Neither is my willpower. Though I’m kinda jealous of people who can eat just one square of chocolate.

The problem is that I shouldn’t even be opening the bag.

Why am I even trying to eat just one?

When my kids were small I would say, “Don’t see how close you can get to the edge before you fall off! Stay as far away as you can.” Why flirt with disaster, temptation, or trouble? Like people who hug the double yellow line on narrow roads – just why?

It’s not enough to see how close we can get to whatever sin has been rebranded, repacked, and promoted as ok. We need to actively avoid it.

Brand Ambassador

This is about a new heart, a new mind, a new you. I can’t hold on to bitterness and anger toward my brother and expect it not to affect my heart. Watching the same shows, listening to the same music, and talking the same talk will keep me in the same heart place. Taking the Lord’s name in vain isn’t just about cursing – it’s about taking on the name I’ve claimed – Christian – and not living up to it.

You can’t be a Nike brand ambassador and always wear Reebok. I can’t profess to “love my neighbor” and get excited for someone’s downfall. Like writing a bad check – the image of money is there, but there’s no cash in the bank to back it up.

Branding my company or chain as “The Best In The Business!” or “Number One!” is great unless I consistently provide shoddy service. It doesn’t just look bad on me – it reflects on the brand as a whole. People won’t believe or respect the company. They won’t shop there anymore.

I might think failing my ‘harmless” one-chip challenges in life affects only me, but people see if I give up the chips or keep dipping. Each time I dip my hand back in that bag, the devil gets another foothold in my life. With every foothold the devil gets, the closer I get to representing the wrong brand.

So No, I can’t eat just one. But now I don’t even want to try.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22-24