Food and Drink (Part 4) – Eating Too Much

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I.       Eating food is a Christian liberty.

1. Some people with immature consciences are convinced that it is wrong to eat certain types of food such as meat (animal flesh) (Rom 14:1-2).
2. We that understand that we can eat whatever we want should not judge them that choose to abstain from eating certain foods (Rom 14:3-4).
3. We also should not enjoy food or drink in the presence of those that would be offended by it (Rom 14:14-22).
4. We must be careful that our eating doesn’t encourage someone whose conscience is weak to eat something that they are doubtful of eating or drinking (1Co 8:4-13; 1Co 10:27-32), because it is sin to do something against conscience (Rom 14:23).

II.    The Bible warns us about eating and drinking too much.

1.      We must be moderate and temperate in all things.

1. We are to let all men see our moderation (Php 4:5).
2. Moderation n. – 1. The action or an act of moderating. †a. Limitation, restriction; a fixed limit; a restricting provision or clause. Obs. b. Control, rule, governance. 2. a. The quality of being moderate, in various senses; now only with reference to conduct, opinions, demands, desires, or their indulgence; avoidance of extremes; self-control, temperance; occasionally, †avoidance of severity or rigour, lenity, clemency.
3. We must therefore exercise self-control when it comes to everything including what we eat and drink.
4. We must be temperate in order to run the race of faith and obtain the crown (1Co 9:25).
5. Both pastors and church members alike must be temperate (Tit 1:8; Tit 2:2).
6. Temperate – 1. Of persons, their conduct, practices, etc.: Keeping due measure, self-restrained, moderate. b. Moderate and self-controlled as regards the indulgence of appetites or desires; abstemious, sober; continent; in late use spec. moderate or abstemious in the use of alcoholic drinks.
7. Temperance is a Christian virtue.
8. Temperance n. – 1. The practice or habit of restraining oneself in provocation, passion, desire, etc.; rational self-restraint. (One of the four cardinal virtues.) Self-restraint and moderation in action of any kind, in the expression of opinion, etc.; suppression of any tendency to passionate action; in early use, esp. self-control, restraint, or forbearance, when provoked to anger or impatience.
9. Temperance is part of the gospel (Act 24:25).

iii.    Temperance is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).

1. Temperance must be added to our faith (2Pe 1:5-6).

2.      Eating too much of anything is gluttony and is sinful (Deut 21:20; Pro 23:21).

1. Glutton – 1. a. One who eats to excess, or who takes pleasure in immoderate eating; a gormandizer.
2. We are warned to stay away from those who are given to excess of wine, riot, and banquetings (1Pe 4:3-4).
3. Excess – 5. The overstepping the limits of moderation; an instance of this: b. spec. Intemperance in eating or drinking.
4. Riot – 1. a. Wanton, loose, or wasteful living; debauchery, dissipation, extravagance. b. Unrestrained revelry, mirth, or noise. 2. a. An instance or course of loose living; a noisy feast or wanton revel; a disturbance arising from this; †an extravagant display of something.

iii.    Banqueting n. – 1. Giving of banquets (obs.); indulgence in luxurious entertainment, feasting, carousal.

1. Banquet n. – 1. A feast, a sumptuous entertainment of food and drink; now usually a ceremonial or state feast, followed by speeches.
2. Feast – 3. A sumptuous meal or entertainment, given to a number of guests; a banquet, esp. of a more or less public nature. Also a series of such entertainments. to make a feast: to give a banquet. †to hold a feast: to give or join in a banquet.
3. Eating too much is just as much of a sin as drinking too much alcohol.
4. We must avoid riotous eaters of flesh (Pro 23:20) and those who live riotous, unrestrained lives (Pro 28:7; Luk 15:13; Rom 13:13).

3.      Eating too much sugar is not good (Pro 25:27).

1. Honey is sweet (Psa 19:10; Psa 119:103).
2. Honey is the Biblical equivalent of our sweet desserts.
3. It is good to eat some honey or other sweet things (Pro 24:13).
4. God has given us richly all things to enjoy (1Ti 6:17).
5. The promised land flowed with milk and honey (Exo 3:8).

iii.    The manna that God gave to the children of Israel tasted like it was made with honey (Exo 16:31).

1. Jesus ate honey (Luk 24:42).
2. John the Baptist ate honey (Mat 3:4).
3. But we shouldn’t eat too much honey or other sweets (Pro 25:16).
4. Americans eat way too much sugar.
5. “The average American consumes 17 teaspoons (71.14 grams) [0.35 cups] every day. That translates into about 57 pounds of added sugar consumed each year, per person.” (Daily Sugar Intake, The Angeles Institute, 2-20-2019)
6. “The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends the following guidelines:

• 6 teaspoons (25 grams) of added sugar per day = 100 calories per day for women
• 9 teaspoons (38 grams) of added sugar per day = 150 calories per day for men
• 3-6 teaspoons (12 – 25 grams) per day = 50-100 calories per day for children” (Ibid)

iii.    “Avoid the following foods as much as possible:

• Soft drinks: Whether you call it soda or pop, soft drinks alone often contain your total daily intake of added sugar.
• Fruit juices: Did you know fruit juices can have as much sugar as soft drinks? Make your own smoothies instead!
• Candies, Sweets: Candies and sweets obviously offer no nutritional value.
• Baked goods: Cookies, cakes, and pies are usually high in sugar and refined carbohydrates that make you crave them even more.
• Fruits canned in syrup: Eat whole fruits and vegetables instead.
• Low-fat, diet foods: These “low-fat” or “diet” foods make up the loss of fat with higher amounts of added sugar.” (Ibid)

1. When it comes to sugar, let your moderation be known unto all men.

4.      Drinking to the point of drunkenness is sinful (Eph 5:18; Gal 5:21).

5.      Drinking habitually, even if it stops short of drunkenness should be avoided (Pro 23:20).

1. Winebibber n. – 1. A tippler, a drunkard.
2. Bibber n. – One who drinks frequently; a tippler. (Frequent in comb., as wine-, beer-bibber, etc.)
3. Tippler – 1. A retailer of ale and other intoxicating liquor; a tapster; a tavern-keeper. Obs. 2. One who tipples; a habitual drinker of intoxicating liquor (implying more or less excess, but usually short of positive drunkenness).