Whose God is Their Belly

I recently saw a post concerning a person who had some friends visiting that were "foodies" and wanted to know where was the best place to take them to eat. 

Foodie means "A person who has an ardent or refined interest in food, and who eats food not only out of hunger but also as a hobby. The related terms "gastronome" and "gourmet" define roughly the same thing, i.e. a person who enjoys food for pleasure."

The term "foodie" and people proudly proclaiming to be one is growing.  

Yet the Bible has this to say in Philippians 3:19

....whose god is their belly, 

and whose glory is in their shame, 

who mind earthly things.

"Whose god is their belly" = appeasing the appetite and fulfilling the desires and lusts of the tastebuds control that person.  

Don't let your belly (your appetite) rule you for what rules and controls you will be what you serve.   It will become an idol to you. 

"Whose glory is in their shame" = this type a person will boast about loving food and pleasing the appetite.  Some proudly proclaim to be a food snob. They glory in it. :( 

They don't recognize in proclaiming such things they are minding 'earthly things' rather than the spiritual.

I will go a little further with this admonition...

There are those who will claim they cannot fast due to a health condition or issue.  There are legitimate medical reasons why a person may not be able to fast for a full day or even half a day, but those are rare. 

God knows if you genuinely cannot fast or if you are using it as an excuse.  Are you able to 'fast' when a doctor instructs you to in order to run a test? It is unto God that you are to fast, and it is before Him we each will stand to give answer and account. 

Therefore,  we have to examine our hearts before God and get to the root of the reason: 

Is it a true medical issue? 

If it is, there are other things you can sacrifice and give up for a length of time.

Is it that I struggle denying this flesh of food and cover this reason with excuses? 

I understand the struggle.  It is denying this flesh of what it really wants and that is where the true battle is.  But it is worth it for what you gain in the Spirit!

Don't fast begrudgingly.  

Fast reverently before the Lord. 

Don't let your belly be what you serve.