What does the Bible say about overcoming gluttony?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls believers to resist gluttony through self-control, faith in Christ, and a heart that treasures God above bodily appetite. Proverbs warns that indulgence brings spiritual and practical ruin, while Philippians 3:19 cautions against making the belly a god. Christians are to discipline themselves like runners pursuing a greater prize, as 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 teaches, not trusting willpower alone but Christ’s strength in Philippians 4:13. Romans 14:17 reminds us that God’s kingdom is not centered on food and drink, but on righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. As God renews the mind and deepens hunger for righteousness, believers may receive food gratefully without being mastered by it.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 11 votes
Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win. Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible. I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air, but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
- Philippians 3:19 10 votes
whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.
- Proverbs 23:21 8 votes
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
- Philippians 4:13 7 votes
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Proverbs 23:2 6 votes
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
- Romans 14:17 5 votes
for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Peter 5:8 5 votes
Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
- Job 23:10-12 5 votes
But he knows the way that I take. When he has tried me, I will come out like gold. My foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way, and not turned away. I haven’t gone back from the commandment of his lips. I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
- Romans 8:5-8 5 votes
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile toward God, for it is not subject to God’s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can’t please God.
- Matthew 5:6 4 votes
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
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