The 7 Deadly Sins Part 6: Gluttony
I am sure you have heard of the term gluttony by this point in your life. And you are conditioned to only think of gluttony as someone who just eats a lot. But you may have never questioned what a gluttonous person really is and why it’s so bad. Well, I’m here to help you get more of the meat off of that bone and break it down for you.
Deuteronomy 21:20-21 KJVS
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
This can sound like a lot at first. So let’s take it in bite sized pieces. First off, no matter how old your child gets, they are still your child. Even if you are eighty and they are sixty. Notice the context as well. A young child or teenager (especially in that time) was not a threat or a strong complaint that they are behaving this way. But let that child grow up and get in their thirties, or forties and this can be an issue for a parent, that they can no longer control; a gluttonous and drunken child. Which may even become someone worthy of death due to the other spirits they develop as well. But to better understand why, let’s look at a definition of gluttony from dictionary.com and the Strongs Concordance and come back to this later on.
Gluttony:
a person who eats and drinks excessively or voraciously.
a person with a remarkably great desire or capacity for something:
a person devoted to eating and drinking to excess; greedy person
Strong's Number
H2151
Original Word
זלל
Transliterated Word
zâlal
Phonetic Spelling
zaw-lal'
Parts of Speech
Verb
Strong's Definition
A primitive root (compare H2107); to shake (as in the {wind}) that {is} to quake; figuratively to be loose {morally} worthless or prodigal: - blow {down} {glutton} riotous ({eater}) vile.
Riotous:
(of an act) characterized by or of the nature of rioting or a disturbance of the peace.
(of a person) inciting or taking part in a riot.
given to or marked by unrestrained revelry; loose; wanton:
If you took your time and went over the definitions, we learned that a gluttonous person is one who can eat or drink excessively. They are going beyond the reasonable limit. But they may also be someone who has a great capacity for something, that may not be limited to food. You overindulge in something. Maybe a gluttonous appetite for nonsensical tv. You may even be devoted to overindulging. It’s a pastime for you. Something done greedily for fun or enjoyment. I love to chow down!
We also understand that it can mean you are too loose and riotous. Riotous being one without restraint. But also disturbing the peace. Now keeping all this in mind let’s continue on with our scriptures.
Proverbs 23:19 KJV
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
Trust me when I say, we all have our opinions on food and how much we, as well as our children, may eat. And some may not understand the severity of gluttony or a gluttonous child but listen to The Most High’s perspective through the scriptures to see things through his lens.
Proverbs 23:20 KJV
Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
If you have friends, family, acquaintances or neighbors who are known to be drinking all the time or eating all the time. They are not good company. They are not people you want to be known to be in close association with. You are a reflection of your circle and influenced by your circle. For example, if you decide to fellowship continually with three friends who are obese, you will probably end up being the fourth. You will either influence them or they will influence you over time. And if they influence you (which often happens) you will become as they are, as you pick up on there bad habits.
Proverbs 28:7 KJV
Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
If you heed these warnings you will be wise but if you disobey, you will become foolish. So much so, that you can put yourself in a place of shame when one considers your upbringing. And notice that issues can go beyond what one may think initially as being optional. “Oh, that’s just wisdom. I’m not breaking a law.” When many things that are written on wisdom are based on the law. The lack of applying wisdom in an area, may cause you to offend a particular part of the law due to the other attributes that come with it or as a scenario plays out. Or one sin may lead to another. You see this many times throughout the scriptures. One error leads to another.
Proverbs 23:21 KJV
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
A wise man or woman will understand that you cannot make a decent living if you are always gorging yourself on food or always drinking alcohol. For two main reasons. On the left hand side, it’s hard to function on a full (stuffed) stomach or drunken. You get tired, you get sleepy, you get brain fog, and it’s hard to concentrate. You become less and less productive. To the point of slothfulness. To where now, you become known as a lazy individual. On the right hand side, you may end up in a situation where, as quickly as you make the money, you spend it. All of your substance goes to food and alcohol, mainly for your own consumption. To the point where you become less and less responsible. Therefore, you become poor. You no longer have what you need for your necessities, need it be for you or your family.
Sirach 37:29-31 KJVA
29 Be not unsatiable in any dainty thing, nor too greedy upon meats: 30 For excess of meats bringeth sickness, and surfeiting will turn into choler. 31 By surfeiting have many perished; but he that taketh heed prolongeth his life.
To be insatiable is to be in a place where you are never able to be satisfied. You have to keep going back for more and more. No matter if it’s sweet or savory. But if you stay there, or live there, it can lead to both acute or chronic problems. Because the excessiveness will lead to different sicknesses as it is no longer balanced. Surfeiting, that is over eating will lead to choler; pains in the stomach and the body. This is how one gets what we know today as various issues in the body, such as, high blood pressure, diabetes, gout, kidney failure, the list goes on. By being gluttonous, is how these things come about. Too much of a particular thing; need it be meat, sugar, salt, fat, or a combination of these, over time, chips away at our health and our life until it’s gone. Cutting our years in this world short. Uprooting you from your friends and family who may depend on you, need you, and your support. Need that be emotional, physical or spiritual. But if you learn from these things and really meditate on it and begin making changes, you will fare never the worse. If you don’t, your selfish negligence may lead not only to your own downfall, but your families. As you didn't love them enough to fight hard enough, to change an area in your life that would get you killed. Or even worse, put them in a place where they are taking care of you for years because you can no longer take care of yourself. But what makes it so bad, is that it could have been prevented, had you made wiser choices. And this can cause families to fall apart. And you may even be the source of complaint for the marriage issues, not only that you may face but your children may face.
Sirach 31:12 KJVA
If thou sit at a bountiful table, be not greedy upon it, and say not, There is much meat on it.
You have to understand that if you see a table, plate, or spread of food, don’t put yourself in a mindset that just because a lot is available, I can (or should) eat a lot. Consider those that must come after you, don’t be rude.
Sirach 31:13 KJVA
Remember that a wicked eye is an evil thing: and what is created more wicked than an eye? therefore it weepeth upon every occasion.
Your eyes will get you into a lot of trouble. You want what you see, even if what I see, ain’t good for me. Where if you didn’t see it, you probably wouldn’t desire it. Now that you saw it, you want it and you feel some type of way if you can’t get it. And don’t get emotional if someone else has to correct you on why you shouldn’t have it. Now you’re hot, upset or sad because someone told you, you had enough, or that’s not good for you. Or maybe you should wait. Everything you see isn’t for you to eat. Change your mindset to sample or taste instead of devour. Either choose two or three portions or a small sample of five or six.
Sirach 31:14 KJVA
Stretch not thine hand whithersoever it looketh, and thrust it not with him into the dish.
Don’t let your eyes deceive you. You can’t eat everything you see. Don’t try to beat someone to a dish because you see there are only one or two pieces left. Or even worse, fighting or arguing over a dish. Turn those negative spirits into positive ones. Practice humility and patience. Practice selflessness and sharing. Change your mindset to having a care for others and ensuring they eat first. They get what they need, so you can get what you want. And if its all gone, I probably didn’t need it any way.
Sirach 31:16 KJVA
Eat as it becometh a man, those things which are set before thee; and devour not, lest thou be hated.
Be mindful when you eat. And even more mindful around how much you eat. Especially, around others, no matter who they are in relation to you. Eat respectfully, don’t turn on the vacuum cleaner and enter suction mode. Even those of your own house can complain. Your spouse can hate you, your kids can hate you. You eat everything up in a way that is not pleasant to look at or deal with. And no, it is not limited to age or gender. There is a way one may eat that surpasses what is reasonable or appropriate, need it be a man or a woman.
Sirach 31:17 KJVA
Leave off first for manners’ sake; and be not unsatiable, lest thou offend.
You have to know when to stop. And if you don’t know, you need to learn, or have someone who can be a support for you through wisdom in this area, to guide you and teach you until you learn. You don’t want to be in a place where you are offending others, due to how much you eat. Then people are not going to want to go out with you, or take you anywhere. And think about how many activities we do that involve eating or drinking. Now, you don’t really get to go out or spend that time, because people don’t want to deal with your bad table manners. Oh, and really don’t be the person who doesn’t pay or have any money half the time. Then people really won’t want to take you out or go with you.
Sirach 31:18 KJVA
When thou sittest among many, reach not thine hand out first of all.
When you are among many people, and many doesn’t have to be fifty or more. It can be reduced to five, or so. You don’t want to be the person known for always eating first. As a matter of fact, if you have a reputation, you may not even be able to bring up food in a conversation for a while. Especially, as it relates to time. You always wanna know when we eating? Is it time to eat? Where we about to eat at? Don’t be that guy!
Sirach 31:25 KJVA
Shew not thy valiantness in wine; for wine hath destroyed many.
Don’t put yourself in a place, or allow your loved ones to feel as if they have to show off how mighty they are to drink or eat. You aren’t doing yourself any favors. It will catch up to you. And nothing good will come of it. But we live in a world and most of us in a country, that awards a sinful nature. That cheers us on for destroying ourselves, for the amusement and entertainment of others, even if at our own expense.
Sirach 31:19 KJVA
A very little is sufficient for a man well nurtured, and he fetcheth not his wind short upon his bed.
When you are both raised well and with that raising, you adjust to eating within a reasonable and respectable parameter. You will realize you don’t need to eat as much to be satisfied. And you will notice that you don’t need to be full to be satisfied. If you eat lighter and less in quantity. You will feel better, even if you have not adjusted the quality. But you will notice you eat even less, when you eat nutrient dense foods. However, if you don’t eat nutrient dense foods and eat greater amounts of empty caloric foods, you may find yourself getting bad sleep. Need it be because you are dealing with an upset stomach or stuffed stomach going to bed. Or you didn’t get good sleep and wake up groggy and still tired because your body was working, instead of resting while you slept, due to eating late. It is much harder to gorge on nutrient dense foods, than on nutritionally destitute foods. But eating more of the latter, will cause one to eat more, as the body is literally trying to fill itself off of quantity, rather than quality.
Sirach 31:20 KJVA
Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating: he riseth early, and his wits are with him: but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man.
If you want to get better rest you must change your eating to a moderate level. Moderation applies to both alcohol and food. And if you were not raised that way, get with people you know, who were raised that way or that exemplify who you want or need to be. But if, and when, you make the change to reduce the quantity of food you eat, you will notice an improvement in sleep quality.
Sirach 31:21 KJVA
And if thou hast been forced to eat, arise, go forth, vomit, and thou shalt have rest.
If you are ever in a situation where you have been forced to eat or overindulge, and now you don’t feel good. Go throw up and you will feel better.
Sirach 31:22 KJVA
My son, hear me, and despise me not, and at the last thou shalt find as I told thee: in all thy works be quick, so shall there no sickness come unto thee.
Don’t put these things off either. If you continue to put them off, at some point in time in the future, you may get sick. All of our days are numbered yet…
Ecclesiastes 7:17 KJV
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
Even if one says, well I’m not wicked. Some things yes, you may not be wicked per se. But you may be in a place where you are foolish in this area and as a result you may die before your time. And your diet may be the result. When you could have changed that and gained another fifteen years or so. The same applies with sin in general, some sins are hard to come back from or dang near impossible, even with grace and mercy. If you’re too wicked, you may reach the point of no return and die.
Sirach 31:23 KJVA
Whoso is liberal of his meat, men shall speak well of him; and the report of his good housekeeping will be believed.
If you are one that is known for sharing your substance. Sharing your food and alcohol will cause people to speak well of you and hold you in high regard. And the good stories they tell, people will believe base on what they have seen and know of you. Especially, when compared to one who does the opposite.
Sirach 31:24 KJVA
But against him that is a niggard of his meat the whole city shall murmur; and the testimonies of his niggardness shall not be doubted of.
You, see. When one is a niggard and they are stingy. They don’t want to share the food or alcohol they have, everything is hands off and my germs. No one is going to feel welcome at your home. And the stories people tell of their experiences with you, will be held in belief. People won’t think that they are made up, because it doesn’t sound far fetched given your character or what they know of you.
Deuteronomy 21:20-21 KJVS
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. [21] And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
So now, back to the infamous Deuteronomy and the rebellious gluttonous son. How do we get here? Well, I will tell you one way. Which doesn’t apply to all, but many may have a variation of this slippery slope. When you have a gluttonous individual, that spirit can grow and spread. It starts as a very young child, for some even a baby. What may have started with food and an extra piece, has turned into extra pieces. Now extra servings, a whole additional plate. And as a parent, you may even encourage it at first. Physically, you serve the extra portions, you buy the extra burger or sandwich. Verbally you excuse the behavior. “He’s just a growing boy.” “That’s just my baby.” And even when they increase in width or size you validate it. You avoid any accountability for anything you may have failed to say, or do at the time. So you teach them lies that they may even begin to teach themselves and echo to others. “She just big boned.” “It’s just baby fat. She’ll grow out of it.” That child now develops spirits of pride and entitlement. “I deserve this.” “I earned this.” “This is how it should be.” Or, “this is just how I am.” They grow accustomed to not hearing no, stop and slow down. So now it’s harder for them to take or receive correction because you didn’t give it in that area. Or your standards fell significantly short of what was reasonable. If this is the foundation you laid in elementary school or middle school, by high school, now your child is a no limit soldier. Eating has become something they take pride in like a badge of honor. “I can eat a whole box of pizza!” They look at a regular meal like an appetizer. Upset, that there wasn’t enough food on the plate. Need that be at a restaurant or at an event. They can begin to resent or hate anyone that can’t accept their appetite. Or that corrects them. And see it as an attack instead of help. As they never heard someone talk to them so sternly regarding this. And even if by the time you begin to scold them, the damage may already be done. They may confuse my bad act, as me being bad and develop feelings of not being accepted or loved. They can begin sneaking and hiding food in their room to avoid conflict, even if they do feel a sense of shame.
They get lazier and lazier. Escaping work, escaping physical activity. PE has turned from physical education, to please eat. They see they don’t excel in speed or endurance, so many sports they avoid. They can become more self conscious and loose self esteem and develop an, “I don’t care” attitude towards even the wrong things. And to cope, they eat more. Food becomes comforting. Both emotionally and mentally. It’s peaceful and an escape. All of these spirits are growing. Many of which, may not be overt at first. And once they reach the age of maturity, at twenty years of age, if they haven’t prior, they transition to the addition of alcohol. Which exacerbates all of the above. They can become difficult to work with. And some can mask this as long as you don’t hit too close to home. They are accustomed to validation and excuses. The spirit that started with them avoiding PE or physical activity transitioned to a messy room, which transitioned to a messier home, and a stronger lack of organization. Now more clutter. Now they avoid work, if only to get a means to eat and drink more as a motive. And if this child is angry at the world, or their parents, or their life, it can be a bad situation. Some may be prone to sorrow, others wrath. And no, just because one is overweight or obese does not mean they battle with all of these things or in this order. Just a way that these things can happen. The end result is a monster of your creation… A rebellious child.
Sirach 30:25 KJVA
A cheerful and good heart will have a care of his meat and diet.
Remember the key. A cheerful and good heart will care about what their food and diet consists of. Some of us don’t have a cheerful and good mind to care enough. We are stressed, tired, frustrated, upset. You name it. Someone in this state may need a lot of help. They may even have childhood trauma. However, no matter the trauma, it does not validate or excuse the behavior. Only allows us to understand the underlying layers and what approach one may need to take to help them, or help us help ourselves. But it is our job as parents to stop these things early before they get out of hand. And if you or your child is an adult, fast and pray for the help you need to over come these spirits and these mindsets. And start one step at a time. You didn’t get here overnight. So don’t expect change to happen overnight.
Mark 9:23 KJV
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
