I’ve got good news and some not-so-good news to share with you.

I’ll start with the not-so-good news.

Some Christians focus on the sins of others and act blind to their own. What’s worse, we often laugh at what God sees as detestable.

Maybe you’ll join me under a warm blanket of conviction (see John 14:16, 16:8, KJV). After all, we’ve made some sins culturally okay, even expected behavior among and between God’s people. Sermons about them are rare because we dislike holding ourselves accountable to God’s Words.

Temptations abound, but we must learn to overcome them. But if we’re guilty of the sins they represent, we must repent (see 1 Peter 4:17, 1 John 1:8-9). Judgment must first begin at the House of God.

Just because something is generally acceptable by most people doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to God.

Read God’s Word with me: Proverbs 23:19-21 and Luke 7:33-35.

Our topic starts with the letter G and is the sin of excess called gluttony. The Bible groups gluttony with drunkenness and drowsiness, leading to poverty. Yet even Jesus was accused of gluttony by the most religious, self-righteous people.

But thank God, an accusation alone does not make you guilty of sin!

Anyone can accuse anyone of anything at any time, but praise be to God, an accusation alone does not make anyone guilty of sin.

Let’s define gluttony and decide who’s guilty.

Gluttony is consuming excess. We start slipping into gluttony when we eat or drink more than we need. I say “start slipping” because there isn’t a hard-and-fast line. Each person’s body and lifestyle are unique, so each person’s needs are different.

A gluttonous lifestyle is out of control, eating and drinking whatever, whenever, and as much as you want.

However, many people pass judgment and make this accusation with limited knowledge. Just because a person is overweight does not mean they’re currently living a gluttonous lifestyle! We could be, but we’ve usually spent too many years eating and drinking the wrong stuff. Too many fake foods and sugary drinks in our supply chain have little to zero nutritional value and too many calories. Consuming them plus an inactive lifestyle means weight gain is inevitable.

However, skinny, trim, and otherwise fit people can also be guilty of gluttony. Some people overeat, but their bodies won’t gain weight. Some will binge big-time on an out-of-control emotional weekend but then starve themselves of proper nutrition throughout the week. And then some people truthfully say, “I sometimes forget to eat.” I love you, but I can’t relate. Actually, I’m sure we’re not related!

For many, gluttony is an emotional escape, a lingering sign that something is eating at them. Others practice it as an almost unconscious habit.

My painful point is that people of all ages, shapes, and sizes can be guilty of gluttony (Romans 3:23). We can easily quote, “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking…” (Romans 14:17). But we don’t always behave like it’s true.

What’s the big deal? Is this really important to us doctrinally?

YES! I know this too well because I have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But wrong is wrong, even when I’m wrong. We can easily justify: “This isn’t adultery or abuse! I’m not hurting anyone!”

But just like these, gluttony is a sin against the body God has made.

In Philippians 3, the big deal is idolatry. The Spirit informs us that some have made themselves enemies of Christ and our Cross-life: “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things” (see verses 18-19). Said differently, these idolaters worship their appetites and desires.

Your body is the only thing you really possess, and Christians are called to worship God with their bodies (read Matthew 22:37)! “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1st Corinthians 6:19-20).

I urge you, therefore, “by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).

The Law of Moses required dead sacrifices. But our better New Covenant of Grace instructs us to offer our bodies as “a living sacrifice.” The problem with a living sacrifice is that it keeps getting up off the altar! So, intentional and intelligent acts of worship must be repeated daily as our “acceptable” service (see Romans 12:1, JBP). In other words, get back on the altar!

We sure could use a little good news today.

While preparing, I sensed the gravity of this burden. It seemed almost too heavy. But then I thought, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” (1969, The Hollies). Then my soul began to sing, “We sure could use a little good news today” (1983, Anne Murray). Amen?!

The good news is Jesus carried all our sin burdens to the Cross (Isaiah 53:6c). He invites us to cast this burden on Him and find balance by taking up our Cross and following Him (see Matthew 16:24). Spirit-led living is always marked by biblical balance.

This is such good news!

The Gospel vividly depicts how Jesus enjoyed meals with saints and sinners alike. And if I’m following Him instead of my appetites and desires, I can enjoy meals, too. Jesus says, “Wisdom is justified by her children” (Luke 7:35). The Message Bible appropriately translates that as “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” And in 1st Timothy 6:17, we read God “gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

That’s good news!

From the Ancient Orient to modern Western expressions of religious devotion, holy celebrations have occurred with feasts. Consider what Nehemiah said (8:10), instructing his people to observe the Feast of Tabernacles. “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

This is my kind of good news!

Let’s talk about the antidotes we need to apply.

A beggar approached a well-dressed woman shopping on Rodeo Drive in Hollywood and said, “I haven’t eaten in 4 days.” She was filled with admiration as she said, “I sure wish I had your willpower.” She missed the point. I hope you don’t.

The number on your bathroom scale is not necessarily a sin. But practicing a gluttonous lifestyle is. And so is a judgmental, self-righteous attitude.

Instead of these, let’s normalize prayer, fasting, and self-control!

Most of us have majored in celebrations and minored in controlling ourselves. Many Christians go through seasons where they give up something they like too much, asking God for the strength to resist and repent of their known sinful tendencies. Jesus’ 40-day temptation in the wilderness sets our example (see Matthew 4:1-11). That’s when Jesus demonstrated how to overcome the worst of Satan’s temptations guided by God’s Word.

The antidote to all temptations is prayer, fasting, and self-control. Children of God, led by His Spirit, will practice these. This is the godly path to deliverance from food addictions and disorders.

It’s time to confess and address your unhealthy relationship with food.

You can repent if you know you’re guilty. God will forgive you.

You can do better if you cooperate with His Spirit. The Spirit’s solution has been made clear (see Galatians 5:19-26).

The final key to initiating your repentance is to focus on Jesus, not your sin. Keep your eyes on Him.

Become the person of prayer, fasting, and self-control you’ve always wanted to be, and the Holy Spirit wants to help you become. Love God more than your next meal, and His grace will bring you deliverance one day at a time.

I encourage you to fill these next few minutes with prayer.

But first, I’ll remind you. Satan’s role is the “accuser of the brethren” (see Revelation 12:10-11). We don’t overcome him by adopting his role. So, give up accusing other people of sin from your short-sighted observations. If you see someone sinning, there’s no need for an accusation. You should pray for them. If you didn’t see them sin but think they did, your only business is prayer. Don’t focus on what you think others have done, and act blind to your sinful habits (see John 8:7-11).

Before you close this window, take some time to get in the posture of surrender. Confess and forsake any habit that does not reflect Jesus Christ or glorify Him. Temptations abound, but you can actively resist your flesh and the devil by leaning into the Holy Spirit.

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If you are one of my many readers who are involved in a ministry that seeks to help grow Christians, you are welcome to use this content. Pray, study, teach, and give God the glory for any good done without mentioning my name.