Obesity & Self Control

There are few medical conditions that actually cause obesity. It is primarily a lack of self control & discipline that lead to improper diet & exercise that make a body that doesn't function properly leading to a medical condition.

The Bible condemns overindulgence in many things, including food. Proverbs 23:20-21 says: Don't associate with those who drink too much wine, or with those who gorge themselves on meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will become poor, and grogginess will clothe them in rags. Here, as in other verses, gluttony is placed in the same category as other sinful behavior. Yet, while the church denounces the excessive use of alcohol, we don't often speak up about the sin of overeating even though the lack of self control is primarily the root of both problems.

Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own 1 Corinthians 6:19. 

In a press release by the CDC, director Jeffrey P. Koplan said, "Overweight and physical inactivity account for more than three hundred thousand premature deaths each year in the U.S., second only to tobacco-related deaths. Obesity," he continued, "is an epidemic and should be taken as seriously as any infectious disease epidemic. Yet many Christians are destroying the temple of God with excess food, insufficient sleep, and physical inactivity.

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body 1 Corinthians 6:20.

As Christians, we must take care of our bodies in such a way that we are physically prepared to do whatever God asks of us, whenever He asks it. Honoring the body means making a commitment to live a healthier lifestyle by carefully considering the foods you put into your body, making exercise a regular part of your life, and getting enough sleep. Not only is obesity poor stewardship of the body, it's also poor stewardship of our financial resources. It has been estimated that annual costs associated with overweight and obesity in the U.S. are just under $123 billion. This estimate includes more than $64 billion in direct health care costs for preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services and almost $59 billion for indirect costs such as wages lost by people who are unable to work and the value of future earnings lost because of premature death.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22-23).

Christians may fear placing too much emphasis on the physical at the expense of the spiritual, but neglecting the body can be just as wrong. When we are unable to control our eating habits, we lack the self-control that is the fruit of the spirit. Balance is the key. Without taking care of the physical body, we are unable to concern ourselves with the spiritual.

When we are able to control our appetites, we are usually better able to exercise self-control in other areas like anger, lust, and gossip. Walking in the spirit means using food as God intended — to provide energy for our bodies — and enjoying food in appropriate quantities. This places the proper emphasis on food and allows us to also place proper emphasis on spiritual matters.

The story of Daniel demonstrates a person willing to sacrifice physical pleasure to honor the Lord. When King Nebuchadnezzar brought Daniel and several other young men to him: The king assigned them daily provisions from the royal food and from the wine that he drank (Daniel 1:5). However, Daniel determined that he would not defile himself with the king's food or with the wine he drank (v. 8). Daniel requested, Then examine our appearance and the appearance of the young men who are eating the king's food, and deal with your servants based on what you see. He agreed with them in this matter and tested them for ten days (v. 13-14). At the end of 10 days they looked better and healthier than all the young men who were eating the king's food. So the guard continued to remove their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. God gave these four young men knowledge and understanding in every kind of literature and wisdom. Daniel also understood visions and dreams of every kind (v. 15-17).

Daniel and his friends showed the wisdom of eating properly by including fresh vegetables in their diets instead of overindulging on the king's rich foods. They also demonstrated that by placing the correct emphasis on food as a tool to nourish our physical bodies instead of yielding to our lust for food, we are healthier and better able to follow God's call.