|
What Does God's Word Say About
Gluttony?----Betty Miller
Making Jesus "Lord of the Fork"------Betty
Miller
By Betty Miller
God gave us His laws so that we would know how to eat wisely. Keeping these laws will
not produce holiness, nor gain us entry into heaven. However, we can benefit from them and
be able to serve the Lord better if our physical bodies are in good shape.
We must trust the creator to know what is best for us to eat, instead of eating
according to our traditions. He not only made our bodies, but all the animals as well and
He certainly would not have made the distinction between "clean and unclean" in Leviticus
11 if it makes no difference what we eat. 1 Corinthians 10:31 sums it up
beautifully, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to
the glory of God."
So, in all our partaking of food or drink we must ask ourselves, "Is what I am
doing pleasing to God? Will my diet nourish my body so that it will be efficient in His
service? Will it make my mind keener, my muscles stronger, my judgement more sound, my
influence for the Lord more potent?"
Some things that we drink are just as bad for our bodies as the food we eat. We must
ask God to deliver us from every desire to eat or drink anything that would defile our
temples. Not only should our spiritual temples be cleansed but our physical ones as well,
so that we might serve the Lord without any hindrances. If we really desire to become an
overcomer, we will bring our bodies into subjection to the Holy Spirit as Paul did in 1
Corin. 9:24-27;
"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the
prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth
the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means,
when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
Excerpt from the book The
Pathway into the Overcomer's Walk; Click here to order
Return to "Bible
Answers Index" Menu
WHAT
DOES GOD'S WORD SAY ABOUT GLUTTONY?
By Betty Miller
Song of Solomon 2:15 says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that
spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." Foxes sometime in search of
food would enter into the grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop.
However, the little foxes were too small to reach the grape bunches so they would chew on
the vines and it would kill the whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he
would lose his vine which was more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow that
we might think is little or insignificant can also be disastrous for us.
The "little fox" that I want to address in this article is one
that can cause many problems in our lives if indulged in for a long period of time. It is
an excess that can cause many maladies. It is over-eating or what the Bible calls
gluttony. The over-use of the fork has been the death of many, especially in our country
where there is such an abundance of all kinds of food. Also, we are all especially tempted
to overeat during the holiday season since partaking of food is a big part of our
celebrations. Because we all have to eat every day this little fox can slip in easily.
Proverbs 23:19-21 says "Hear thou, my son, and be wise,
and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of
flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall
clothe a man with rags".
With so much emphasis on proper eating and physical exercise here in America, it has
caused many to examine their lifestyles. A lot of people have now become out of balance by
putting too much emphasis on the physical man while neglecting the spiritual man. The
other extreme is to be so spiritually-minded that we neglect our bodies by overeating or
lack of exercise. The Lord desires order in this area, as our physical condition, if it is
not properly cared for, affects our spiritual condition. We cannot serve the Lord to the
fullest if our bodies are run down and tired and not functioning as God designed them to
function. The medical world is now recognizing that gluttony is one of the major causes of
many of our modern day illnesses. Moderation should be our guide.
Philippians 4:5, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is
at hand".
As Christians we are to realize the emphasis is to be put upon the
spiritual man; however, just because we have an understanding of our spiritual position in
Christ does not mean we can break His physical laws of health and not suffer the
consequences. The spiritual man should always be given top priority as it needs to be in
ascendancy. Its influence over the physical man is greater than the physical man's
influence over it.We need proper balance between neglecting our bodies and giving them too
much attention.
"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is
profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is
to come" (I Timothy 4:8).
It is easy to recognize that one of the greatest sins in the United States is gluttony.
Food has become the god of millions. Jesus has never been made "Lord of the
Fork." The Word of God has much to say about man's eating habits. Many sicknesses
that are plaguing mankind stem directly from unhealthy eating habits. How should
Christians eat? Are all the so-called health foods the answer to our diet problem? The
Word of God not only addresses what is healthy for us to eat, but also the spiritual
problems we have in this life. Since the Lord created the human body, He certainly knows
what is best for us to eat.
So many have been eating according to the tradition of men instead of seeing what God's
Word says about this subject. If we do not eat by the Word of God, our eating habits will
be dictated by the patterns of what we have been exposed to in our lifetimes. I will not
address the kinds of food we should eat here other than to say that natural foods that are
"living foods" (fresh fruits and vegetables, grains, legumes, certain meats, and
dairy products) are the best for us. The "dead foods" or "junk food"
are those that are highly refined and processed and have little nourishment in them.
Daniel and his companions proved the wisdom of eating properly when they refused to eat
the King's meat and instead ask for pulse (vegetables and grains) and water to drink for
ten days. After that period of time they appeared more healthy than the other servants of
the King.
Daniel 1:12-17, "Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let
them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon
before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's
meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this
matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances
appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the
king's meat 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they
should drink; and gave them pulse. 17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge
and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and
dreams".
If we are overweight it came about not suddenly, but rather "little by
little". This "little fox" begins adding the pounds before we realize it.
Each day we over indulge until we become fat. (I realize some people do have overweight
problems that stem from hereditary problems however, these can be overcome too, with help
from the Lord.) We can tackle this problem with the Lord's help and He will give us the
power to trim down. As we seek the Lord and ask for His help in this area, He will not
fail us. He will give us the strength to overcome gluttony or other bad eating habits.
Here are some helps to overcoming weight problems which usually come about
through lack of knowledge or lack of discipline or lust for food:
(1). First, repent for yielding to the temptation of lust for food. (Phil 3:19,
"Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their
shame, who mind earthly things".)
(2). Then, submit to God and ask Him for the power to overcome gluttony through His
Holy Spirit and resist the devil through prayer and obedience to God. (James 4:7,
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you".)
(3.) Next, ask for God's plan for your weight loss. Allow Him to lead you as to what He
wants you to do. He knows your body and He will direct you as to how you are to eat. Ask
for a desire for healthy foods and ask Him to remove your cravings for unhealthy foods. (1
John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any
thing according to his will, he heareth us:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever
we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him".)
(4.) Daily, thank God for setting you free and do not allow the devil to discourage you
by his condemning whispers to your mind. Sometimes the Lord does a quick work at other
times it may be slower. Don't be discouraged even if at times it seems slow or you fail
occasionally.. Remember, this came "little by little" and it is sometimes more
healthy to lose it "little by little" (Losing as little as 2 lbs. a month
amounts to 24 lbs. in a year). In the process you will be developing new habits and
disciplines that will eventually become established eating patterns. (Romans
8:1-4, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not
do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of
sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit".)
(5.) Add fasting periodically as the Lord leads. Even fasting one meal or one day a
week will help in disciplining your body to be subject to your spirit man. (Matthew
6:17-18, "But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That
thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father,
which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly".)
See the teaching on Fasting in the BIBLE ANSWERS link. http://christunlimited.com/answers/afasting.html
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of
the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye
are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are
God's".
May the Lord bless you as you seek Him in this area and make Him the "Lord of the
Fork" and overcome this little fox!
This article was taken from the Overcoming
Life Digest (Nov./Dec. 1997 Issue); click here to view Digest
MAKING JESUS "LORD OF THE FORK"
Proverbs 23:20-21: "Be not among winebibbers;
among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the
glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags."
EATING UNTO THE LORD
One of the greatest sins in the United States is
gluttony. Food has become the god of millions. Jesus has never been made "Lord of the
Fork." The Word of God has much to say about man's eating habits. Many sicknesses
that are plaguing mankind stem directly from unhealthy eating habits. How should
Christians eat? How much should we eat? Are all the so-called health foods the answer to
our diet problem? Does the Bible address these questions? Yes, the Word of God has the
answer to our questions as to what is healthy for us to eat and how we are to eat.
Many people's problem with eating is the problem of
overeating. This problem usually develops by eating that little extra helping of food.
This "little fox" can grow from one of just "one more cookie" or
"another bite of candy" until there is no restraint and then the lust of food
rules one's life. In the above verse gluttony is listed along with drunkenness. Although,
society doesn't look down on overeating that much. The Bible declares this is a serious
sin and warns us to resist yielding to this kind of appetite. Someone has said that the
drug of the yuppies is gourmet food and fine wines. It is respectable to entertain and
have expensive food served to one's guests. Now God wants us to enjoy the good food He
created for us and there is nothing wrong with cooking and serving guests in our homes.
However, when all of our spare time revolves around cooking, entertaining and eating rich
and expensive food, something is wrong, especially when God is left out of our lives.
Proverbs 23:1-3: "When thou sittest to
eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy
throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they
are deceitful meat."
With so much emphasis on proper eating and physical exercise here in America, it has
caused many to examine their lifestyles. Many people have now become unbalanced by putting
too much emphasis on the physical man while neglecting the spiritual man. The Lord desires
this area also to be in balance as our physical condition, if it is not properly cared
for, affects our spiritual condition.
The spiritual man should always be given top priority as its
influence over the physical man is greater than the physical man's influence over it. "For
bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having
promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come'"(I Timothy 4:8).
We need proper balance between neglecting our bodies and giving them too much attention.
God is a good God and has promised us the blessing of enjoying
the good food that He has created. Psalm 22:26: "The meek shall eat and be
satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever."
It is only when we abuse our bodies through overeating or wrong eating that is wrong. Some
people become very defensive over the issue that we should bring God to the table. They
want to eat as they please, however as Christians we must bring the Lord into this area of
our life as well as every other area. Remember the first sin in the Bible that led to all
of mankind's downfall was when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate something they were told
not to eat (Genesis 3). This certainly was a seemingly little thing that
caused sin to enter into the world. The real problem was the disobedience to God. We
should ask the Lord to help us in this area if we are struggling with this problem.
Although I can't address the answer to our eating habits in this article I will list a few
things that we should do that will help us lose weight and overcome gluttony. One note
though, you do not have to be overweight to commit the sin of gluttony. If you lust after
food it is a sin..
(1.) EAT GOD'S APPROVED FOODS LISTED IN THE BIBLE:
A good guideline would be to eat "living foods." The
natural, living foods are fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, meats and dairy products. The
"dead foods" are those that are highly refined. They not only are expensive, but
also in most instances do little to nourish. Many people are tired, run down and sick
because a large part of their diets are made up of dead junk foods. We want to include at
least an outline of some of God's approved foods to help people get started on the road to
proper eating. Although this list is not complete, it does give the basic foods that the
Bible lists as good to eat:
Barley---Ruth 2:23
Bread---Luke 22:19
Butter---Isaiah 7:22
Corn---Ruth 2:14; I Samuel 17:17
Cheese---I Samuel 17:18
Dates---Genesis 3:2
Eggs---Job 6:6
Figs---Numbers 13:23; I Samuel 25:18
Fruits(All)---Genesis 1:29
Herbs (Leafy Plants) and Vegetables---Genesis 1:29
Honey---Deuteronomy 8:8
Meats---(Beef, Fish,Lamb,Poultry,Venison) Deuteronomy 14; Leviticus 11
Milk---Isaiah 7:21-22
Nuts---Genesis 43:11
Olives and Olive Oil---Leviticus 2:4; Deuteronomy 8:8
Salt---Leviticus 2:13
Wheat (Bread, Cereal, Pasta)---Psalm 81:16
(2.) EAT IN MODERATION:
Ask the Lord to help you eat the proper amount of food. Eat only until full. He
will help you. He loves you and cares about you. Philippians 4:5: "Let your
moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand."
(3.) GET REGULAR MILD EXERCISE: Walking is an
excellent form of exercise.
(4.) FAST PERIODICALLY: Fasting helps cleanse
the body of toxins that can lead to sickness.
As we seek the Lord in regard to our diets, He will gladly lead
us in the right path. We must not get out of balance in this area and let menus and
cooking absorb an exorbitant amount of time since this would be just as bad as ignoring
diet altogether and eating anything we want. Here is a good verse to claim as we set our
heart to overcome gluttony and the tendency to allow the enemy to tempt us little by
little to fall into the trap of overeating.
Psalm 141:3-4: "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep
the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works
with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties"
This article was taken from the Overcoming
Life Digest (July/August 1999 Issue); click here to view Digest
|
