My mother once told me she was addicted to sugar. She liked hard candy and kept ice cream around. But addicted? I had to realize even thin people struggle with gluttony.
“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but I will not be MASTERED by anything” 1 Corinthians 6:12.
We are free to eat what we want, with two caveats: (1) Don’t cause the weak to stumble (1 Corinthians 8:13); and (2) Don’t become addicted. Food addictions are deceptive: it’s difficult to recognize an addiction when so many different things satisfy it. But if your meals regularly include sugar, fat, or fried food, you may have a sugar/fast-food addiction.
But is gluttony even a sin? No one preaches on it. Sins destroy lives. What’s wrong with enjoying the food God gave us?
Proverbs says, “Put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony” 23:2.
Gluttony is a sin, and yes, it destroys lives (obesity, heart disease, death). Beware “those who … gorge themselves on meat, for … gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags” Proverbs 23:20-21.
“Their god is their stomach” Philippians 3:19. –
Imagine if Paul told you your god was your stomach!
Remember that your body is His temple. Sometimes the lost judge the health of our message by the healthiness of our appearance. We were not saved for “self-care.” We were saved FOR HIM. “YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN. You were BOUGHT for a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
Sins of the flesh are TOUGH: you MUST eat, after all. But if you focus on Jesus, you will do fine. “Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify fleshly desires” Romans 13:14. Talk to Him. Pray. Worship. Sing. And don’t be afraid to exercise a little self-discipline.
“I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified” 1 Corinthians 9:27.
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