3. IT IS WIMPY TO BE UNDISCIPLINED IN EATING

There are many who are fat and out of shape. I am sure that God did not create us to look this way. Many are so unhealthy that they can barely drag their overweight bodies around. I am sure that many diseases and sicknesses are directly related to the lack of discipline with eating habits. I do not want to be unloving but someone must speak out.

Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:3, “You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, in order that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” For the life of me, I cannot picture a good soldier looking soft, flabby and fat. It just does not fit the picture of a good soldier. A soldier, unfit and out of shape, would fall over, out of breath, at his first fight. He wouldn’t be able to run to save himself, let alone anyone else. Enduring hardness is directly related to the self control of all natural appetites. Excessive eating is an entanglement with the affairs of this life. It must displease the one who has chosen him to be a solider.

Proverbs 25:16, “Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, lest you be filled with it and vomit.” I do not think it is appropriate for a man of God, who calls himself a soldier of Jesus Christ, to manifest for all to see that he does not have his eating appetite under control. One cannot help be suspicious as to what other appetites he may not have under control.

Paul confesses in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. “ To discipline your body means to have all your appetites under control.

Proverbs 23:1-2, “When you sit down to eat with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you; and put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.” The wimp does consider diligently what is on the table before him, but his consideration is whether there is enough food to satisfy his "out of control” appetite.  The suggestion of this verse is to “put a knife to your excessive appetites.” It conveys the seriousness of lack of self control.

In the Old Testament, "a glutton and drunkard" was to be stoned. (Deuteronomy 21:20-21) Proverbs 23:21 says, “Do not mix with wine-bibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat; for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.” Drowsiness always accompanies an excessive appetite. Someone has wisely said, “More than one man has dug his grave with his teeth.”

Away with such wimpiness. Let us show ourselves as true soldiers of Christ.