DAILY DEVOTIONAL    WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 19, 2001
(Proverbs 25:27)

It is not good to eat too much honey,
   nor is it honorable to seek one's own honor.

For instance, take the matter of eating. God has given us an appetite for food and stomachs to digest it. But that doesn't mean we should eat more than we need. Don't think of eating as important, because some day God will do away with both stomachs and food.

SOURCE #1: (Proverbs 25:27) The New Student Bible, ©1992 Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids Michigan 49530
SOURCE #2: (1 Corinthians 6:13a) The Children's Living Bible, ©1970 Tyndale House Publishers, Wheaton Illinois 60187

Gluttony. Eating to excess. In my years of ministry, I could always get the "Amen corner" into my sermons when I preached against homosexuality, preached against the more visible sins. On those occasions when I mentioned gluttony, it usually got very quiet. I realize this will be a difficult read for many today, but that is one reason I am here... to challenge you. Let me say right up front, gluttony is a sin. Anything you do in excess, to your detriment, to the detriment of your ability to serve God, that is ahead of your daily relationship with God is a sin. I know that during this Holiday season many will be sitting down to some incredible feasts. I am not saying you shouldn't, and I am not saying you should not enjoy food. I believe God gave us food to nourish our body, taste buds to enjoy food, and eating is part of our life. Gluttony however refers to eating in excess. I know many fine men and women of God who have tremendous lives and do great work for the Lord. However, this is an area they struggle and that is why I bring it to you today.

Like all sin, gluttony can be overcome, not in our own strength, but in His. Like all sin, if you fight this battle, you need a battle plan. God can give you that plan, the strength to carry it out, the perseverance to get victory. Like in other sins though, the question becomes, do you really want to win? Do you really want to conquer this foe? Do you even recognize this is a problem in your life?

At this point, you have either accepted through the prompting of the Holy Spirit that this is an issue in your life, or you have realized that this is not something you battle with. If you are in the latter category, then I would encourage you to pray for those who do fight this battle each day. I have no doubt you know people in your family, school, workplace, church, that are going through this struggle. Pray for them today. Pray that the Lord would open their eyes and show them this is a problem. Pray that they will have the courage, like anyone who is dealing with a particular sin, to admit it and allow the Lord to walk them to victory.

If you are struggling in this area today, I will be praying specifically for you today. I realize what a difficult struggle this can be. God is more than able to give you victory, but my prayer for you today is that you recognize the issue is very real. I pray that you recognize it as a problem. I am confident that if you take that first step, God can and will, help you overcome this struggle in your life. I love you, care about you, and realize sensitive nature of this sin like any sin. But there is no use in hiding it or candy-coating the problem. It is time to recognize it as a problem, and get busy fighting it and letting God help you become victorious over this part of your life.

Don't hesitate to write me if I can pray for you specifically about gluttony or whatever the struggle you may be facing today. It is no accident you read this devotional, it is no accident God has placed me in your life for this season, it is no accident that God is speaking to you today. I will pray, stand with you, and try to help any way that I can to see you become all that the Lord has raised you up to be.

In his love and service,
Your friend and brother in Christ,
Bill Keller

If I can help you in any way you can contact me through my personal email at bkeller@liveprayer.com.

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