The kingdom of God

This morning I was randomly pray-reading the verse in Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

I've come across this verse for a lot of times, but while I was reading it this time, I asked a question to myself - "why it is not eating and drinking?" because another verse came to me. 

The Son of Man came eating and drinking; and they say, Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Yet wisdom is justified by her works.(Matt. 11:19)

So, what's the role of "eating and drinking" in the kingdom of God? Are the important or not? However, while I dug into the truth, I realised I actually asked a wrong question. If we look into the background and context of Matthew chapter 11, we can see that it's about the dealing with the church life in the present age (Romans 14:17 ft.1) whereas in Romans chapter 14 is about receiving the believers. 

While some people stumble others with the matter of food (Romans 14:15), the kingdom of God does not pay attentions on regulations and doctrines but care more about how we are following the indwelling Christ, who is the kingdom people's wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30). By the wisdom (the indwelling Christ), we are able to serve Christ and live out a practical church life by pursuing the things of peace and the things for building up one another (Romans 14:18; Romans 14:19). 

Another footnote in Romans 14:17 (ft.2 righteousness) also addresses the definition and application of the wisdom (the indwelling Christ) to our church life today in relation to the kingdom of God. 

The kingdom of God is the sphere in which God exercises His authority so that He may express His glory for the fulfillment of His purpose. In such a kingdom, what matters is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness denotes that which is right and proper. Those who live in the kingdom of God should be right and proper toward others, toward things, and toward God; with them there should be nothing erroneous, improper, crooked, slanted, or biased. This requires that they be strict in dealing with themselves. Peace is the fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11 and note). It characterizes the relationship that those who live in the kingdom of God should have with others and with God. If we are righteous, right, and proper toward others, toward things, and toward God, we will have a peaceful relationship with others and with God. Thus, we will have joy in the Holy Spirit and, in particular, before God. In this way we will be filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:52) and will live out righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, which are the reality of the kingdom of God.

How marvellous to have more understanding concerning the kingdom of God! Oh Lord, may this be not merely understandings but my practice in the church life!