Recently, when we ordered a meal at a fast food restaurant, the lady behind the service counter politely asked, “Would you like to supersize your order?” We were slightly amused. The burgers were already huge: half a pound of charcoal-broiled ground beef on a thick sesame seed bun with double layers of lettuce, tomato, pickle — and three slices of cheese. It had a name like the “Sumo Wrestler Junior” and it made us shudder to imagine the Sumo Senior! Oh, and it came with a bucket of fries and a gallon of soda.
Sure, we’re exaggerating, but still, we’re amazed at how the portion sizes served in American restaurants have grown over the years. We used to ask for a doggie bag so we could take home what we couldn’t finish. Now when we ask, the waiter brings out a couple of big square styrofoam containers, and we’re able to pack up enough food for another big meal and a bedtime snack.
If you could time-travel back to the late 1950s or early 1960s, you’d probably be shocked by the serving sizes in a typical drive-in hamburger joint. A regular burger was one thin patty of beef with a dollop of mustard and ketchup; not the stacks of steer you get today. A pack of fries was about 2.5 ounces. (Today a carton of fries weighs in at around 6.5 ounces.) And the average sized soda was 8 fluid ounces, not the 32-ounce “bladder-busters” served today.
Maybe all this super-sizing was a response to the once meager portions served in finer restaurants: a medallion of meat the size of a political
campaign button handed out by an underdog independent; three — count ’em — three tiny new potatoes artistically arranged next to a few slivers of carrots and zucchini on a plate the size of a saucer. Those were “healthy” portions … for a hamster with a small appetite!
This is what’s known as portion control, and we understand it’s all the rage in expensive restaurants with fancy menus that don’t list the prices. One portion size fits all, from tiny eats-like-a-bird Barbara, all the way up to gone-in-60-seconds-and-now-I’m-eyeing-your-plate Pete. Ah, the good old days of eat, drink, and still be hungry!
The Bible also speaks of portions: “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.” (Lamentations 3:24 ESV) But exactly what kind of “portion” is God providing His believers? Does anyone ever leave our Heavenly Father’s table still hungry — and needing to supplement their “portion” with a snack?
No way! Those who come to God’s table quickly realize, “Whom have I in heaven but You [God]? And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You. …God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psalm 73:25-
26 ESV) In other words, the portion served by God doesn’t leave us hungry for anything else.
God is not stingy. In fact, He’s into super-sizing His blessings: “[God] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV) And if that weren’t enough, our Heavenly Father also serves double portions: “Instead of shame … you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.” (Isaiah 61:7 NLT)
Have you endured hard times, or suffered through hurts and disappointments? Our Heavenly Father is also known as Jehovah El Gmolah, or the “God of recompense.” (Jeremiah 51:56) The word recompense means: to reward, compensate, or provide restitution. So, in accordance with His divine nature, God has promised us that “…I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten…. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.” (Joel 2:25-26 King James)
We all know the story of Job, a prosperous man who lost everything! Well, God made sure Job’s story didn’t end there. “…The Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10 NIV) Double what he had before?!?! Remember, Job had been a very rich man. Hence, doubling his original blessings was like … super-sizing an already huge meal!
“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning.” (Job 42:12 NASB) What encouraging words for those of us who put our faith in God, knowing that the best is yet to come! Double portions! Super-sized blessings! (And no indigestion!)
Jesus Christ said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10 ESV) Have you allowed God to supersize your life yet?