Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins in a series we have been exploring recently.
So far we have covered the sin of sloth and the sneaky vice that is pride.
Gluttony is a sin that is less spoken about among believers.
Nonetheless, it deserves its spot in the seven.
So What Is Gluttony?
Gluttony is defined as habitual greed or excess in eating.
It speaks to an unhealthy dependence on food.
Whenever we ignore our physiological, psychological and spiritual triggers to stop eating, we feed gluttony.
It can lead to obesity and invite other health issues.
However, one can still be physically healthy, maintain optimal weight and be a slave to gluttonous behaviour at the same time.
We can pig out on fast food, overindulge in cakes and chocolate and we can get drunk chugging down too much alcohol.
But despite the topic leading to discomfort and being widely ignored, its implications run deep.
Gluttony is an indication of spiritual warfare.
It is a physical manifestation of the lack of self-control – a fruit of the Spirit.
How Is It Cured?
The cure for this vice is the much needed but often unmastered virtue of self-control.
Fortunately for us, we have the secret weapon.
Holy Spirit is faithful and will guide us out of the self-woven web of overeating.
First, we need to identify and admit that gluttony is an issue for us.
Then, we submit this to God in prayer and listen for His instruction.
We can bring this to Him as many times as needed until we develop the self-control we crave.
Remember, we can do all things through the One who helps us.
This is not something He will neglect as God wants us fully transformed.
Fasting
Another practical and powerful way to combat gluttony is by embarking on a spiritual fast.
The most essential element of fasting is prayer so while we do starve our flesh of food, or type of food, the act of praying strengthens us.
It builds up our faith muscle as well as our self-control.
With such an focused practice spanning several days, we naturally reflect on those behaviors that hold us back.
Better still, during a fast, Holy Spirit communicates with us on very deep levels.
The noise of our habits dissipates and we our spiritual lenses are cleaned.
Meditating on Scripture
Finally, we get the privilege of bible verses that act as course correctors for us in life.
By meditating on God’s Word we allow ourselves to become transformed.
Bible verses are powerful and timely.
They remain relevant throughout the ages and their applicability is unmatched.
God’s Word just has that exquisite ability to enter us.
It pierces through layers of deep-seated habits and issues we sometimes aren’t even aware of.
11 Bible Verses Addressing Gluttony
27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.
Proverbs 25:27
20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’
Deuteronomy 21:20
20 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat,21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
Proverbs 23:20-21
7 The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.
Proverbs 28:7
49 Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.
Ezekiel 16:49
19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19
14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 13:14
19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what is before you,2 and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite.3 Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food.
Proverbs 23:1-3
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”
Titus 1:12
16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.
Proverbs 25:16
Let’s Confess To Each Other
Is gluttony one of your vices?
In the past, admittedly, I had a picture attached to the word gluttony.
Maturing spiritually did a lot to obliterate that imagery.
I found that I had certainly flirted with that particular sin much too often.
I have sinned and gorged on copious amounts of chocolate, had too much dairy even when my body gave me signs to quit and ignored that still, quiet voice that so faithfully whispers “stop now, you’re full”.
But glory be to God, we can give these struggles to the Lord.
And, how awesome is it that none of these sins are truly deadly!
They are more than reversible because Jesus’s blood has bought us forgiveness.
We can live free of condemnation.
Song Choice
The song Holy Spirit put in my heart today to pair with this post is Victor’s Crown by Darlene Zschech.
Can I tell you?
A great majority of the times I write these, I find I don’t need to search for what to share with you.
Isn’t God just amazing.
Take a listen and pay keen attention to the lyrics.
He has overcome so we can live without any condemnation from gluttony or any other sin.
Praise Jesus!