7 Deadly Sins and Your Marriage – # 7 Gluttony

What comes to your mind when you hear the word gluttony? It can be described as “habitual overeating,” a definition that leads us to focus on the outward appearance (gluttony = fat person). While excessive body weight is certainly a part of gluttony and is the image that can easily come to our minds when we hear the word, there is another way to look at it: Gluttony is a heart issue. Treating gluttony as an attitude rather than as an action takes the emphasis off the physical appearance and lays the heart issue before God.

The word gluttony is derived from the Latin word gluttire, which means to “gulp down” or “swallow.” This word can refer to overindulgence and overconsumption of food, drink, intoxicants, or wealth to the point of waste. Gluttony takes our focus off God and directs our attention and our devotion to some of the excesses of life.

How does gluttony affect a marriage? When people pursue pleasure at the expense of everything else and this pleasure of food, drink, or money is consistently excessive, they have a problem with gluttony. If one person in a marriage is the pursuer of these things, the marriage will suffer. The excesses and the desire for them will dominate that person’s life at the expense of everything else. If both the husband and the wife are pursuing excessive pleasure rather than God, then they are seeking fulfillment based on the overindulgence of food, drink, or wealth. Their relationship with God and their relationship with each other are put aside for the gluttonous pursuits.

Gluttony destroys. It destroys people, and it destroys marriages. It is a selfish pursuit in which no one comes out the winner.

Are there gluttonous things in your life? In your marriage? Is it time to address them?

Dr. Kim’s new book, 7 Secrets to an Awesome Marriage, will help you deal with gluttony and move your marriage forward like you never dreamed possible.