Gluttony – Over Eating
While God has blessed us with foods that are delicious, nutritious, and pleasurable. To have too much, even of a good thing, is to turn the good into an evil. The Bible says a few things about gluttony:
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” (Proverbs 23:20-21).
“He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father” (Proverbs 28:7).
“Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony” (Proverbs 23:2).
“Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it” (Proverbs 25:16).
We should be careful not to always associate weight gain with gluttony. There are specific medical conditions and certain drugs that contribute to weight gain.
Self Control
The Lord calls Christians to have control over their appetites (Deuteronomy 21:20, Proverbs 23:2, 2 Peter 1:5-7, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, and 2 Corinthians 10:5). Self-control—is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Paul wrote, “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything” (1 Corinthians 6:12).
We are called to present our bodies as a “living sacrifice” for God (Romans 12:1). The Lord teaches of the necessity to “bring it (body) into subjection” (1 Corinthians 9:27, Romans 13:14) because it is “the temple of the Holy Ghost” (1 Corinthians 6: 19-20). “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31).
God’s Power to Overcome
The first sin for the human race had to do with the appetite of food and the self control (Genesis 3:6). For this reason, Jesus needed to overcome that same sin when He was tempted in the wilderness after fasting for 40 days (Luke 4). And the good news is that through His victory, every child of God can have the needed grace to overcome the sin of over eating and gluttony in his life.
The apostle Paul declared, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Victory could be gained through Christ-given strength. Thus, in Christ there is strength to resist every temptation and grace to triumph over every weakness (1 Corinthians 15:57).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
