Avoiding Food Gluttony

Gluttony means over-indulgence and over- consumption of food, drink, or wealth items to the point of extravagance or waste.  In our Christian denomination,it is considered one of the seven deadly sins- a misplaced desire of food or its withholding from the needy.


Proverbs 23:1-3
When you sit to dine with a ruler, not well that is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

Proverbs 23:29
Do no join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.


We are all so sinful at some point or another with gluttony because it is so easy.  The first step is to acknowledge if we are truly sinning with gluttony or simply enjoying a sugar treat or a glass of wine. When does an indulgence become gluttony? It's simply really for most of us when we have over consumed and over indulged. When a single serving becomes binge eating. When a full plate of food tasted so amazing that we went back for seconds. At that very point we are wasting and becoming extravagant, feeling we DESERVE that second portion.

Give glory and honor to the taste of the first bite, plate or serving and then rejoice. God wants us to flee from all this and have greater gratitude. Be humble in your flesh; seek God and give thanks for the tasty treat or food and then keep pursuing righteousness (simply by not going for more). 

1 Timothy 6:11
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love endurance and gentleness.


Steps to avoid the Gluttony

1) Plan your Meals ahead of time- decide ahead of time how much is worthy of you Prepare your plate and immediately put the second helpings into the fridge to get cold.
2) Moderate your wine, snack goods. Portion size control by avoiding eating of the bag/container- weight your portions and use common sense on what looks like a normal portion.
3) Give away your excess to the needy.
4) forsake yourself from all indulgence, wine, meat and give that to someone that truly needs it
5) Pray to God for control
6) Make a promise or commit to a fast to God to avoid all gluttony
7) trust the body the Lord has provided you. When you cut the sweets, wine the cravings will decrease. God built us this way!

Take joy in the journey, recognize that when you control your gluttony you will in fact gain control over emotions that leave you extremely vulnerable to angry, selfish, slothful behavior.