Too Much of a Good Thing?
I sighed as my husband and I drove to our annual family reunion and potluck dinner. Images of all the delectable temptations I'd soon be facing taunted my determination to stick with my latest diet program.
As we arrived, temptation began to win. This reunion's only once a year, I told myself. I'm going to relax, eat as much as I want, and not worry about my diet.
Immediately God interrupted my thoughts: What would you say if someone used the reunion as an excuse to drink too much alcohol? I bristled inwardly. Using any occasion as an excuse to get drunk would be wrong (Ephesians 5:18)!
But God wouldn't let me off the hook so easily. I felt him gently probe me, asking me the difference between someone who got drunk and someone who ate too much. Doesn't my Word say both bring me displeasure? he seemed to say.
My mouth dropped in astonishment at this revelation. I'd never equated the two actions! I hated to admit it, but deep within me I knew my excess weight was rooted in sin; I'd allowed my cravings for food to control me more than my hunger for God. It had been easy for me to believe these two behaviors had nothing in common since Christians rarely address overeating as sin, but do address drunkenness that way. Yet both are the result of the same problem: a lack of self-control.
The Allure of Eating
For the first time, I saw my unrestrained eating habits as the sin of gluttony (Proverbs 23:20-21). Filled with this new awareness, I repented of my actions and attitude, and determined to separate myself from this behavior as no diet plan ever had.
Previously when I'd lost weight, I'd felt a powerful sense of self-satisfaction and pride. Not this time. As the pounds fell away, I felt indescribable gratitude and relief, as if I'd been set free from an addiction. This time when thoughts of food filled my mind, I'd pray or think of Scripture I was memorizing, refusing to put food in my mouth until I was actually hungry. Each day I grew stronger, no longer at the mercy of my cravings. Until now, I hadn't realized how much I was driven by external influences rather than the internal influence of God.
Food wasn't my only area of self-indulgence. I soon realized I spent excessively and worked excessively. Excessiveness defined my life, as it does most lives in modern society. It's become acceptable and normal, even considered healthy. We're encouraged to indulge ourselves because we're "worth it" or we've "earned it."
On the surface, I really didn't see anything terribly wrong with this philosophy. I wasn't hugely obese, nor was I in debt from my spending habits. I wasn't on the verge of a nervous breakdown from my fast-paced life. In fact, I enjoyed it, just as I enjoyed food and my possessions.
The harm was that these habits created a barrier between God and me. Instead of turning to God when I was happy, sad, or in the mood to celebrate, I turned to food or to the mall—whatever struck my fancy at the moment. While these things aren't sinful in themselves—not even my favorite double-fudge cake with Hershey-bar filling—the excessive attention I gave them was.
Originally published in: Today's Christian Woman, 2001, November/December, Vol. 23, Issue 6, Page 78
Related Topics:
Addiction, Burnout, Busyness, Diet, Gluttony, Materialism, Seeking God, Self-control, Self-indulgence, Shopping, Temptation, Weight
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Kathy
Thank you for the perfect reminder at the perfect time.
Estelle
Talk about hitting home! I need to lose at least 30 pounds and this article spoke to me about my attitude toward over eating among other "acceptable" sins in my life. Thank you.
Tricia
WOW! I got so much out of this article. I have struggled with these same issues in my life...and continue to struggle with them. I needed to read this article. It gave me a "new" perspective on my "old" struggles. I realized that I am full of pride. God is working on my pride so strongly and this article was a powerful witness. I can see that I have substituted other indulgences in the place of the indulgences I am trying to give up. All the indulgences are taking the place of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I need to turn to him in prayer with everything, not just when I have a really big need. Not just once or twice a day! All day, everyday with all things, big and small. Thank you, Mayo! I look forward to looking at your other articles. May God's light continue to shine through you!
Feli
The Holy Spirit will guide believers who are willing to submit. Remeber the scripture which says that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Or the message in the bible that says you are not judged by what you eat or drink or the moon festival because all these things are shadows of things to come. Or the message which says that all you do---do it with thanksgiving to God, our Father. Whether in words or deed---all for God's glory. Coming to America, Ive come to grasp that there are gazillions of choices here. Just observe the choice of cheese we have--there's blue cheese, mozzarella, parmesan and all sorts. You search for eggs you encounter organic, inorganic, small, large or medium size etc. even in our things--- coats can be made of polyester, types of fur, length color style etc. These things are not wrong---but how we approach the blessings God has given us matters most. Its our RELATIONSHIP that matters. God provides a way for our 'things' to be shared.
Liese Penno
This article made me realize that overeating or "over anything" is sin. God has used this article to show me that in my life I obviously wasn't taking these things seriously enough. I never rated becoming drunk on the same level as overindulging in (my weakness ) certain foods. I'm glad that God used this article to show me that it is sin. I want to be obedient to Him so I will make the changes that I need to make. Thanks. God bless!
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