Have you ever thought that overeating could be a threat to your godliness?
Have you ever thought that overeating could be a threat to your godliness?
If you pay attention to what doctors are saying, you may have considered the health risks related to eating too much. If you’re not too wealthy, you probably consider the threat of overeating for your bank balance. But the purpose of this article isn’t to consider health risks or budgeting. For overeating, properly called gluttony, is a sin. Simple. And we need to guard against it. Gluttony is as much, if not more of a spiritual danger than it is a physical or a financial one.
Alright, What is Gluttony?
Gluttony is a word that is for the most part far from the modern mindset. It’s a word I rarely hear; an issue that even fewer are concerned about. Simply defined, gluttony is eating and drinking in excess. It’s a drive to indulge beyond the sating of our hunger.
It’s a drive to indulge beyond the sating of our hunger.
The thought that eating in excess is sinful, or has spiritual implications, isn’t one that’s often presented in the modern church, especially not in urban settings. There are so many more overt spiritual threats that these more seemingly innocuous ones are overshadowed. Nevertheless, it is a danger to us. It’s a danger that we are clearly warned about in the Bible. Furthermore, it’s incompatible with the godly life that God calls us to live.
Does God Have Anything to Say About Gluttony?
Before turning our attention to gluttony, it’s worth highlighting that God calls food a good gift (Genesis 1:29; 9:3). It’s right for us to appreciate and enjoy it (Psalm 104:14-15). However, as with most gifts God has given us, the issue comes when we abuse it; not when we simply enjoy it.
Thus the Lord doesn’t spend very much time speaking directly into gluttony in scripture. It is important to note, however, that every one of the instances in which gluttony is mentioned explicitly, it’s portrayed negatively. As we examine the Bible and we reflect on the conduct God calls us to, we see clearly that gluttony is sinful. Overeating is displeasing to the Lord.
Overeating is displeasing to the Lord.
In Deuteronomy 21:20 we see the character of a rebellious son that merits being brought before the leaders for condemnation. He is described as being “a glutton and a drunkard,” in addition to being disobedient and stubborn.
Likewise, in Proverbs 23 we see warnings about the dangers of gluttony. In Proverbs 23:1-3 we see that in trying to satisfy gluttony we may end up in more serious trouble, because our context may have dangers that we’ve been blinded to, as we set our focus completely on our stomachs. Then in Proverbs 23:19-21 we are warned that becoming like drunkards and gluttons will lead to our impoverishment. Proverbs 28:7 contrasts a “discerning son” who “heeds instruction” with “a companion of gluttons” who “disgraces his father.”
But What Are the Dangers, Really?
As God’s people, the life we are called to is completely incompatible with gluttony. We are called to be self-controlled (Titus 2:2, 6, 12; Galatians 5:23); alert and sober minded (1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8); and disciplined (2 Timothy 1:7, Colossians 2:5). Instead of making an idol of our stomach (Philippians 3:19), we are meant to be offering our bodies as sacrifices to honour our God (Romans 12:1). To become a glutton is to put aside our self-control, our sober mindedness, and our discipline. Living in gluttony makes our stomachs the objects of our worship and our meals the instruments.
To be a glutton is to set aside the character that God has called us to in favour of our own desires.
Even in actions as mundane as eating and drinking, we need to glorify God.
In 1 Corinthians 6 Paul urges the church to honour God with their bodies. In context, he was speaking about abstaining from sexual immorality. But the principle can be applied here. He says, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies.” In other words, the way that we look after our bodies matters. For, ultimately, our bodies belong to God. Even in actions as mundane as eating and drinking, we need to glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
So What Should We Do?
Now that we understand what God’s word has to say about gluttony, how should we as believers respond? We need to understand that being a glutton displeases our Lord. No matter how innocuous it seems, it produces and cultivates character traits that God calls us away from, hindering and distracting us from the ideals that we are called to aspire to. Gluttony is incompatible with a godly life. It accustoms us to giving in to our flesh, rather than denying ourselves.
Gluttony accustoms us to giving in to our flesh, rather than denying ourselves.
We cannot be simultaneously self-controlled or disciplined and gluttonous. Nor can we be subject to our fleshly desires while we are setting our minds on the things of the Spirit (Romans 8:5). We can’t claim to be good stewards of the bodies and finances that God has given us and at the same time do something that endangers both for momentary satisfaction.
Gluttony poses a serious threat to our spiritual well-being. So we need to call each other to account; and challenge each other when we aren’t walking in moderation or temperance.
Most importantly, we need to be encouraging each other to be disciplined. Rather than simply focusing on avoiding the sin, we need to be active in working to cultivate self-control and pursue holiness. Inherent in the self-control that we should grow into as we are being sanctified, is the resolve to deny our fleshly desires when they tempt us to ungodliness. As we grow in self-control and discipline, we will be increasingly able to overcome the temptation of gluttony.
Steward God’s Wonderful Gift of Food
Food is good. It nourishes us physically and brings us together socially. Eating can be a real pleasure. Food is a blessing from God that should be enjoyed. Gluttony, however, is a sin. And it represents an undeniable danger to our godliness. As God’s people we should supplant it in our lives with self-control and discipline. In doing this we will honour and glorify God with the way that we eat, and we become accustomed to denying ourselves.
