Pick-N-Choose Buffet vs. 13-Course Meal: Learning to Savor God’s Word

Ruth Fix
Oct 10
5 min read

Is Your Approach to Reading God’s Word Enough to Fill Your Spiritual Appetite?

Ruth Fix

Fri, October 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM EDT

Foie gras. Lamb. Chicken. Warm goat cheese salad. Filet mignon. Sorbet. Cheese platter. Crème brûlée… Are you full yet just thinking about all that? The French say, non! When it comes to the French and their food, more is always more.

At some of the finer restaurants in France, once you’re about halfway through a 13-course meal, a cart with an assortment of cheeses is rolled out so you can “take a break.” Soon after, the waiter unveils yet another plate of tastebud-tantalizing delightfulness, followed by a sorbet to cleanse your palate. Then comes what appears to be a second or third main course, followed by a couple of post-main-course delicacies. And finally, a magnificent dessert such as crème brûlée or chocolate torte. Then, coffee (because by that point, the wine has run out). Whew!

Culinary Contrast

In France, each course is portioned so that you receive just enough to savor and be satisfied, not the super-sized servings we Americans are used to. Between courses, there’s no rush. Just wine sipping, chatting, and enjoying the company of fellow patrons. [Insert clinking glasses here.]

Contrast that with the gastronomical experience of an American buffet. The same amount of food may be available all at once, but there are some striking differences:

The food quality is considerably lower.
Pre-made items are the norm.
Patrons are expected to pile on as much as they can to get their money’s worth, with second and third rounds encouraged.
There’s an unspoken urgency as people at the front door look on, hoping for your table.
Not everyone tastes everything, because individuals choose the foods, not the chef.
Pairings with a good wine? Nope. A fizzy fructose water will do.

The most striking difference between the 13-course French meal and the Pick-N-Choose American buffet is that the former is like a symphony, while the latter is a cacophony of flavors and textures.

Bread and Water

Jesus said in John 6:35, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” That sounds amazing! Like the woman at the well (John 4:15), I want to beg, “Sir, please give me some of this water,” so I won’t have to keep returning to the wells in my life that quench my thirst only for a little while.

In Matthew 4, Jesus also quotes Deuteronomy 8:3b: “…man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

Jesus was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. Though He ate physical food, He was sustained by Scripture, His own words. He was fulfilled in Himself, lacking nothing. He was God, after all.

À La Carte Bible

For years (longer than I care to admit), I thought my biblical knowledge was tied up in a pretty pink bow. I’d memorized all the big hitters—John 3:16, Romans 8:28, the Romans Road verses, a few Psalms, even Psalm 23 as a kid. And yet, there was so much more missing from my spiritual plate.

One day, while driving home from school drop-off, I tuned in to Moody Radio. Tara-Leigh Cobble, author of The Bible Recap, was sharing her story of reading Scripture daily, cover to cover, in chronological order after a challenge from her pastor.

She admitted she hadn’t wanted to. Like me, she thought she already knew enough. But when she finally read through all of Scripture, looking for God instead of herself, she fell in love with Him. This transformation inspired her signature phrase at the end of each Bible Recap episode: “He’s where the joy is!” You can find Tara-Leigh’s testimony here.

Tasting and Seeing

After hearing her story, I felt convicted to read Scripture as a whole, not piecemealed like a poorly executed charcuterie board. Still, months passed before I took the plunge.

At 50, I was content just listening to Tara-Leigh’s summaries. Eight minutes a day felt manageable. Yet, like someone watching a cooking show instead of tasting the meal, I knew I needed to dig in myself.

Providentially, that same year, a lifelong friend invited me to join her and a few others reading The Bible Recap. It was my invitation into the “spiritual dining hall,” to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8).

And wow, the feast I’d been missing! Even in the Old Testament, where many fear God’s wrath, I discovered His mercy and compassion woven throughout every chapter.

Although it can be challenging to digest two to five chapters a day, I finally put down the hors d’oeuvres tray and experienced the full banquet God has set before us.

Eating Challenge

Are you picking and choosing Scriptures like you’re at a spiritual buffet? Resting on your laurels, knowing just enough to get by? Do you start each new year determined to read the Bible straight through, only to stall out by Leviticus (where, as one writer quipped, Bible reading plans go to die)?

Take heart. You’re not alone.

Just like inviting a friend to share a meal brings accountability and joy, so does reading Scripture together. Discuss what you’re learning, share what stood out, and see God’s Word through another’s eyes.

There is still plenty of time to prepare for your own Bible Reading Challenge in the new year. Let’s look forward to reopening God’s Word together, to simmer in His sovereignty, marinate in His mercy, and steep our minds in His truth.

His Word is infused with life-giving goodness. And at His table, we’ll find, like nowhere else, a zest for life.

Savor the Savior. Bon Appétit!

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Originally published on Substack: Write in Texas

Used with permission. Lightly adapted for Insight Out Media.

About the Author

Ruth is a stay-at-home mom and self-dubbed Chaos Coordinator. She holds a BBA in Marketing, and her passion has always been writing in all forms. Except for the boring ones like algebraic word problems. During her career, she has written marketing content for publications like Harmon Homes® and TravelHost® magazines, articles for The Witness (a quarterly newsletter of Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas), and résumés/cover letters for clients from a variety of backgrounds. Ruth’s favorite books include A.W. Tozer’s “Knowledge of the Holy” and “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom. As a pre-teen, Ruth was enamored with the witty writings of famed author Erma Bombeck. Ruth’s desire is to use her God-given gifts to bring the hope of Jesus to others while spreading a little humor along the way.

Follow her on Substack: https://ruthiefix.substack.com/