Discipleship Devotional, July 3rd, 2025
“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.”
— Proverbs 23:20–21 (NIV)
Many believers understand that drunkenness is a sin, but far fewer recognize that gluttony—an excessive and uncontrolled desire for food—is also displeasing to God.
Gluttony happens when we give undue priority to satisfying our physical desires, particularly our appetite for food, at the expense of our spiritual life. Paul warns us about people “whose god is their belly” (Philippians 3:19). Sadly, many today live this way—focusing more on feeding the flesh than nurturing their spirit.
As believers, we have been given the Spirit of self-control. Our bodies and their appetites, while legitimate and created by God, are not meant to rule over us. The Apostle Paul declared:
“I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
— 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NKJV)
Similarly, in another passage he writes:
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:12 (KJV)
Eating is good, and food is a gift from God—but we are never to become slaves to our appetite. Just because something is lawful doesn’t mean it should have power over you.
One powerful way to keep our appetites in check is through regular fasting. Fasting reminds us that our spiritual hunger is more important than our physical cravings. It disciplines the body and refocuses the heart on God.
We must, like Paul, “bring our body under subjection,” ensuring that nothing—not even something good like food—becomes an idol or master over us.
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me the gift of self-control through Your Spirit. Help me to discipline my body and not give in to gluttony or excess. May I always hunger more for You than for anything else. Amen.
No responses yet