A Day of Fasting: Biblical Insights into Gluttony

In an effort to hop back on the bandwagon when it comes to losing weight, I'm fasting today and focusing on God, asking Him to help me re-commit myself to eating and exercising properly. I gave some thought to a few biblical passages that provide some insight into gluttony:

THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

In context, this has nothing to do with gluttony. The “temple of the Holy Spirit” language is not an admonition to keep one’s physical body in a certain state—not tattooed, fit, whatever. However, what it does say is that I have been purchased by God for a price—and what a tremendous price it was! Therefore, I and my body do not belong to me; I belong to God, whose Spirit dwells within my body, serving as His temple.

As such, in context I’m to use my body in a way that glorifies God and does not dishonor Him. By “use” my body, I mean that which I do with it, my behavior. And the behavior of gluttony is a sin, and thus defiles the temple of my body. But I think we can extrapolate that I ought to endeavor to present my body in a way that glorifies God and does not dishonor Him. By “present” my body, I mean conform it—not just that which it does, but that which it is—to God’s will. And when the body is grossly obese and unfit, it does not glorify Him.

So what this verse tells me is that not only ought I to glorify God in the manner in which I eat, but that I ought to honor Him in the condition of my body in which He dwells. Therefore, not only ought I to control my eating, but I ought to bring my body into conformity with His will by losing fat and becoming healthy.

THE HEAVY DRINKER AND THE GLUTTON WILL COME TO POVERTY

Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe one with rags. (Proverbs 23:19-21)

This holds particular meaning for me because of the association implied between gluttony and drunkenness. My over-consumption of calories comes not only from gluttony, but also from drinking heavily. First, it is the source of a large number of calories, so in a sense it is gluttony in itself. Second, it lowers my ability to control myself in eating, so it leads to gluttony. Third, it’s a sin in and of itself in terms of being too often or too greatly given over to an altered state of consciousness.

Here I’m told that if I’m wise I will not practice gluttony and drunkenness (indeed, will not go so far as to “not be with” them, but we won’t get into that now), for they lead to poverty and slothfulness/drowsiness. I think I can attest to both, at least to some extent. When I’m not counting diligently, I’m spending money daily on fast food and the like, and we’re already living paycheck to paycheck as it is. And when I’m drinking, I’m lazy (and, often, glutting), so when I’m drinking often I don’t get anything done, or at least done well—work, spiritual disciplines, whatever.

THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH

Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:19-24)

Here, “sensuality”—a Greek word primarily meaning unbridled sexual lust but able to refer to any wanton excessiveness—and “drunkenness” are called the “deeds of the flesh,” in contrast to “self-control,” which is the “fruit of the Spirit.” So when I’m practicing gluttony and drunkenness, I’m not practicing self-control, and giving myself up to the flesh, the man of sin inside me which I’m to be putting to death in Christ.

Frighteningly, those who practice these “deeds of the flesh,” the text says, will not inherit the Kingdom of God. This means to me that if my life is characterized by gluttony and drunkenness, and not by Godly self-control, then I’m likely not truly saved and thus will not inherit the Kingdom of God. In other words, if I’m truly saved, I will exhibit these less and less, and self-control more and more.

Note that this is not to suggest that my salvation is dependent upon my behavior. Rather, it is to say that my salvation--or lack thereof--is demonstrated by my behavior. As James said, "faith without works is dead" (James 2:26). The problem with a lack of works is not a lack of works, but an inanimate, unsaving faith. Therefore, my discipline when it comes to eating and drinking does not save me, but if I lack such discipline greatly, I might not be saved to begin with.