Gluttony Turns God's Gifts Into Something Harmful
Q: What's the difference between just enjoying our food and being a glutton? I heard somewhere that the Bible condemns gluttony, but does that mean it's wrong to enjoy good food (like I always do around the holiday season)? Where do you draw the line? - H.H.
A: No, it's not necessarily wrong to enjoy good food, or anything else God has given us for our good. The Bible says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father" (James 1:17).
After all, God gave us the ability to enjoy good things. Would He have done this if He didn't want us to appreciate them? What would our lives be like if we didn't have taste buds or the ability to sniff a fragrant rose? A dog doesn't enjoy a beautiful sunset - but we do. A fish can't enjoy good music - but we can. I've always been grateful that my mother made me memorize her church's statement of faith, which included these words: "Man's chief end (or purpose) is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."
The problem is that we easily misuse God's gifts and turn them into something harmful, or even evil. Food is good - but when it becomes our master, it becomes bad. This is why the Bible condemns gluttony. The Bible reminds us that "a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him" (2 Peter 2:19).
Don't let this happen to you - with food, or anything else. Instead, make Christ the center of your life, and commit everything you do to Him - with thanksgiving. Let the Bible's command be your guide: "Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
