Complimentary Story
March 2024The topic of being overweight or fat is almost taboo in the church today. You would never hear a sermon or message on obesity or overweight directed to your self-absorbed parishioners. Anyone that would dare broach this subject in or outside the church would be looked at as judgmental, over critical, and not accepting of people, even though statistical evidence shows that over 70% of the American population today is either overweight or obese. Why is that?
We go so far as to celebrate being overweight today; just look at the TV shows featuring excessive weight in people, advertisements and specialty stores that cater to overweight and obese people. How many weight loss programs and exercise related businesses promote their services and products to an ever self-indulgent society whose god has become their belly?
Philippians 3:19, “whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their mind on earthly things.”
This is a characteristic of those who are enemies of Christ. If you mind nothing more than your sensual appetites above obedience to God’s Word, then you are risking the wrath of God upon you as the Israelites did in the wilderness. “And in their heart they put God to the test by asking food according to their desire. Therefore, the Lord heard and was full of wrath...” (Psalm 78:18,21a).
Let’s be honest, the entire medical system derives most of its income from treating the myriad of physical and mental problems directly related to being overweight and obese. This would include diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, stroke, depression, anxiety, and high cholesterol just to mention a few. Now add all the names of the numerous disorders and diseases that the medical profession conjures up to make people feel like it is not their fault because they are a victim of this particular disease or disorder and you have a recipe for temporal and eternal disaster.
Just look at the many drugs peddled on TV and various advertisements to supposedly help you treat the symptom because you are unwilling to practice self control and self discipline in these areas of your life. If left unchecked, your quality of life will continue to decline and your eternal destiny is not looking good.
Let me give you some solid biblical answers to why being overweight is such a serious sin. The very first sin was related to Eve’s desire to eat the forbidden fruit. In short, she chose to satisfy the god of her belly not to mention her selfish pride in wanting to be her own god (Genesis 3:6).
What did the Israelites complain and grumble about the most during the exodus out of Egypt? Hmm... lets see, according to Exodus 16:3 and 17:3 it was food and drink. They didn’t want just the manna that God provided, but they demanded meat also. They did not understand that according to the Bible, food was to nourish and provide good health, for we are a living temple unto the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:16 states “Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
Does this not sound very familiar today? We are more interested in the pleasure we can derive from food and drink, rather than how, and if, it nourishes us as God originally intended. Being overweight is more indicative of a common use vessel rather than a holy vessel that is set apart for the services and purposes of God, like a temple.
There is so much more that we can learn from the people of Israel as God intended for us. God is clear that the Israelites are a prime example to teach us His truths of what to do and what not to do.
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