Never heard a sermon about gluttony? This overlooked topic is important for us today. In this message, Pastor Jamie shares how to defeat gluttony.
What is gluttony?
- Gluttony is a lifestyle of excess where one seeks to satisfy the longings of the heart by overindulging in food or other pleasure-seeking behavior.
Simply put, gluttony is too much of a good thing, or a good thing being done too much.
God’s ultimate goal for your life is not luxury, but maturity. - Gluttony is not simply the act eating more than you need.
Gluttony is worshipping the creation instead of the creator. Pleasure can be a pathway to gratitude, or a pathway to gluttony. - Gluttony is not the state of being overweight, but being overindulgent.
Thin people can commit the sin of gluttony and overweight people might not be committing gluttony.
Prov. 23:19-21“My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, 21 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags.“
The result of gluttony is irresponsibility, laziness, entitlement, spiritual dullness. - Gluttony is not only about food, but closely tied to greed, lust, drunkenness and idolatry.
Ezekiel 16:49-50
Scripture treats gluttony as a “gateway sin” that leads to other sins.
1 Cor 6: 12-13 “You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 13You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies.”
Gluttony is being governed by another god.
How to defeat gluttony:
- Replace indulgence with self-control.
Gal. 5:23 – self control is a fruit of the spirit.
Replace bad habits with good. Replace the desire for excess.
Don’t trade the Comforter for comfort food. - Replace entitlement with responsibility.
1 Tim 4:8
Ephesians 5:15-17
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. - Replace isolation with community.
Eating with others is a big deal in the Bible. (Acts 2:42)
Eat with the Holy Spirit Gal. 5:16 (walk in the spirit)
Philipians 3:18-19 “For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. 19They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth.”
This place is not our home. You are visiting a dangerous country.
Are you willing to be satisfied with enough?