My mother makes two desserts really well. One is her chocolate chip cookies - they are the best in the nation. Next is her brownies. She simply uses the same Duncan Heinz brownie mix available to all in the stores, but she has that magic touch that makes them better than anybody's.

This month we are going to host a nationwide brownie eating contest. We want to see pictures of you with as many brownies in your mouth as you can possibly jam in there.

Here's what to do.

Host a brownie eating party by gathering two or three of your close friends (or youth group) together. Everyone should come with a tray of brownies.

Anyone can compete, the idea is to see who can finish off (completely swallow) a try of brownies off first.

Send in your photos -- including the name of your winner and the amount of brownies they ate to WisdomWorks, P.O. Box 166317, Irving, TX, 75016-6317 (pictures will be displayed on the web!)

Okay -- so here's what this all has to do with the Bible.

Most people love the chocolately goodness of brownies. Yet, if you were to offer one to your friends who had competed in this little game, they probably would turn you down. Why? Because brownies are bad? no. Because brownies don't taste good? no. Because one brownie is bad for your health? no.

The reason your friend would reject the brownie is because they had just eaten an entire tray full.

Proverbs 25:16 " If you find honey, eat just enough -- too much of it and you will vomit.

God is basically trying to protect us from sickness. Not the kind we get from eating too much food, although it readily applies there too, but from goods things that may come into our life.

Two things to notice:

1. When Solomon was inspired to write this, honey was not readily available in stores. It was a delicacy that you might find while wandering through life.

2. While honey is a sweet treat, it is important to eat only a small amount. Too much of a good thing and you will surely vomit, because it lacks substantial nutritional value.

In life we stumble along many good things. Girlfriends and boyfriends, hobbies, sports, and clubs. They are good, but not necessarily a permanent fixture in our lives. God warns us to be careful in how we "indulge" in these treats so we do not become sick of them.

How many times have you been in this situation (or maybe observed it):

1. Ditching friends to spend time with a boyfriend or girlfriend. When the relationship ends, the friendships rarely survive.

2. Spending so much time involved in a sport or hobby that schoolwork gets neglected.

3. Taking advantage of freedoms (maybe because of a drivers license or a friend who drives) to bail on your parents every chance you get to go out, instead of spending time with family.

God wants us to understand that their are special treats in life, but we must make sure we do not indulge too much on dessert and miss the main course. I particularly see this most in young love relationships.

Love is a wonderful thing, but the physical part of love is the sweet part. The "meat and potatoes" of love that makes relationships work is not kissing or hand holding, but selflessness, honesty, communication, and giving (just to name a few). Many young love relationships focus on the dessert and therefore do not develop any substantial nutrition for their relationship. Love that gets to physical too quick ends in brokenness.

Enjoy the sweet things of life, but make sure you do not indulge in them too much. Or your life will become ill.