Romans 14:17
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of
righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
There is an insect trap that works not by chasing insects but by luring them. A sweet liquid is placed inside that entices them. The insect that comes does not sense danger; it only follows the attraction to something that seems pleasant. The closer it gets to the liquid, the less likely it is to leave. What brings the insect into danger is not a threat but pleasure. What ultimately destroys it is not something frightening but something that tastes sweet.
This image moves us not primarily because of the insect, but because we so easily recognize ourselves in that situation. Modern humans—including believers—are very vulnerable to the same trap. We pursue comfort, security, and bodily satisfaction with all our strength. There is nothing wrong with physical needs; God himself provides food and drink and knows we need them. But the problem arises when the provision for bodily needs shifts from a means to an end, from a blessing to an idol.
Paul’s main message to the Roman church is clear: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking.” Amid disagreement over permissible foods, Paul redirects their focus to what matters most. God’s kingdom is not defined by what we eat, possess, or how comfortable we are; it moves on a higher dimension. Paul highlights three essentials: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. This righteousness isn’t just right doctrine—though doctrine counts. It is about living in a way that pleases God: our actions, speech, relationships, and decisions aligned with His will. Rather than asking, “How much can I get from God?” those in God’s kingdom ask, “What can I give and do to please the Father?”
The peace Paul means is similar to what Jesus promised: “Peace I leave with you; the peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you” (John 14:27). Worldly peace is conditional; it arrives when circumstances are good and leaves when storms come. In contrast, God’s peace can be present amid storms because it is not a product of circumstances but the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence.
True joy works the same way. When Paul writes, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4), he is not in comfortable circumstances. He is in prison. His joy does not depend on conditions but on Christ and His unshakable kingdom. That is why suffering cannot steal that joy.
Returning to the image of the insect and its trap: the tragedy is not primarily the insect’s misfortune but the momentary pleasure that keeps it from seeing that its life is headed for destruction. Many believers likewise live in a similar pattern without realizing it: busy pursuing blessings, comforts, and bodily satisfaction while their spiritual life is slowly drained and pulled toward ruin. God does not forbid us to enjoy His blessings. But He calls us not to be bound by them. There is a big difference between receiving blessings with open hands and clutching them tightly. Open hands can receive and let go; clenched hands reveal a heart increasingly controlled by what it holds.
Today, let us humbly and honestly ask ourselves: where is the center of my joy? Does my peace depend on my bank balance, health, good relationships, or favorable circumstances? Or is there something more fundamental in my life: righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit that any situation cannot steal? The kingdom of God has already come. The question is: are we truly living in it, or are we still bound to the sweetness of the world that is quietly trapping us?