Do You Say Grace and Then Engage in Gluttony?

 

When a reader asked if I'd ever written a devotion on gluttony, I was surprised I hadn't. Maybe it's because I've crept into the overweight category as I've aged. Or perhaps because I know it's a sensitive subject. But remaining silent about gluttony for fear of offending others is as ungodly as refusing to speak up about other sins. So today I'm writing my first devotion about the sin of gluttony. ~ Gail

 

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Being overweight involves a lack of self-control, a sin problem we should battle. See We Need It: Self-Control.

But today I want to address gluttony which goes beyond lack of self-control. 

Since the 1960's, obesity in America went from 13% to 40%, severe obesity went from 1% to 10%, and childhood obesity went from 5% to 21%. This is a serious addiction we can't overlook, another sign that our culture is moving farther from God. (source)

Gluttony goes beyond a lack of self-control to idolatry. Food becomes an idol of pleasure for which people sacrifice their physical and spiritual well-being. 

Ironically, gluttony has two sides. Some people become anorexic or bulimic, starving and binging. I speak from experience because I was bulimic for several years in my 20’s. I basically wanted to have my cake and eat it too (i.e. have low weight but occasionally binge like a pig). When I became a Christian, it was one of the first sins God helped me overcome.

If you're struggling with gluttony or lack of self-control in any area, I encourage you to ponder this Scripture that rescued me from bulimia:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”  1 Corinthians 10:13
 

Each time I was tempted, I realized that God wanted to help me, but I had to give up my idolatry to accept His help. 

 

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Please check out What’s Your Addiction? where I explain how overcoming bulimia came through the testimony of a man who was addicted to cigarettes. And don't miss today's Bite Size Bible Study for a short but meaningful study of gluttony with some helpful Scripture references. 

Notes:

Overweight vs. Obese: Medically, weight is defined as underweight, healthy weight, overweight, obese, and extreme (severe) obesity (source). We can't determine in every case exactly when lack of self-control moves into gluttony, but it seems to begin at obesity unless medical problems are involved. 

Regarding eating disorders: I’m not saying there aren’t other elements involved in eating disorders, but they start with and are fueled by sinful desires. 

Bulimia: This eating disorder involves overeating (bingeing) and throwing up. Some bulimics do this several times a day, some daily, some intermittently, some only on rare occasions. 

Anorexia: This more serious eating disorder can involve bulimia, but it also involves self-starvation and leads to a distorted view of body weight. I'm not sure it could accurately be described as gluttony. It involves gluttony in some cases but it's more about making a god of low body weight than making a god of food.