Does unhealthy eating matter to God?
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Q: The idea of making America healthy again has gained momentum as we’re realizing that much of what we eat and how much we eat is causing illness and obesity. Instead of taking out the trash, we’re taking it in! We’re a people with a bottle or cup in one hand and a fork in the other hand. Does the Bible speak about unhealthy eating and, if so, does it matter to God? – O.E.
A: We live in a culture of ease. People have learned the art of living with more leisure time on their hands. The cult of comfort is growing in popularity and in waist size! There’s a grave danger when indulging our fleshly appetites and yielding to inordinate eating and drinking almost constantly.
Gluttony is a sin that most of us indulge in, but few admit. While there are no laws that forbid gluttony, the Bible strongly denounces it. Gluttony, gorging, and overindulgence are condemned as sharply as other sins. The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians 3 about those whose god is their belly. It is a physical expression of the philosophy of doing what we please to satisfy our cravings.
Jesus gave an example of a man who tore down his barns and built greater ones, to store his crops and goods. The man declared, “I will say to my soul, ‘Soul you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry’” (Luke 12:19, NKJV).
Restraint and self-discipline are being forgotten in the rush toward satisfaction. Such a philosophy tries in vain to drink its way to happiness, fight its way to peace, and spend its way to prosperity. Oh, that we would have a healthy appetite for the things of God and feed on His Word, and say with Job, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12, NKJV).
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
©2025 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c)2025 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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