Everyone has a sinful bend. There are some things which when we’re tempted we can seriously laugh the temptation in the face and move on. But there are other, more dastardly temptations that when presented to us seem to lure us in.
Perfectly baited, easily hooked, maliciously drawn in we succumb to our sinful bend often times gleefully, but then inevitably with the greatest level of remorse.
What’s yours?
Pride, sexual sin, greed, stealing, lying, constantly indulging in whatever feels good, not loving your spouse, selfishness?
For me one of the most pleasurable yet decadent temptations I often face, my sinful bend, comes in the form of food.
I’m a food-aholic
A huge battle is often fought in this arena when it comes to this form of indulgence. Restraints are thrown off as I am drawn in by the delicious scents, sights, and yes even sometimes sounds of food (just think of Hurley from LOST).
Of course eating in and of itself is not bad, but when we overeat, or when being a glutton becomes our goal it has taken you from light to darkness.
(If you are grossed out stop reading here, cause it gets worse). I often overeat until I’m ‘drunk,’ in a food coma, or it feels like I’m pregnant with my firstborn. I’ve watched the Biggest Loser while eating a HUGE bowl of cookies and cream ice cream (my favorite and I know I’m not alone!). I have also used my overeating and out-of-shapedness as an excuse to not do the things that God has called me to do or to just be a lazy bum (I feel tired all the time for a reason). And lets just face it, indulging in the flesh leads to a further letdown of the guard and distance in my relationship with Christ. Just like alcoholics drink too much…I eat too much.
And sometimes I forget that the Bible addresses this…
Proverbs 23:21
for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,and slumber will clothe them with rags
Titus 1:12
One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.
Deuteronomy 21:20
and they shall say to 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
Scripture puts gluttony on the same level as drunkenness, laziness, lying, stubbornness, rebelliousness, and evil beastedness.
Seriously? I’m an evil beast?
It really is time for a change. I may wrestle with this (Romans 7), but I will not be a slave to it (Romans 8!)!
This week (and probably for the 100th time) I start change. Going to the gym, signing up for a 5k, eating out a whole lot less, drinking water, asking God for a lot of help, Biggest Loser cookbook, and an awesome accountability partner.
I don’t want to be an evil beast ravaged by gluttony’s grip; but rather a sinner who has been gripped by the greatness of God and the power of His Spirit, in love with Him, doing what He has called me to do.
I’m a food-aholic…but it’s time for a change
Romans 8:1-4
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
