I have CONTROL!

Gluttony (Latin: gula), derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or wealth items. In Christianity, it is considered a sin if the excessive desire for food causes it to be withheld from the needy.

I believe that many of us have witnessed, know someone or perhaps you yourself is in this kind of situation whereby you don’t have control over consumption of food, drink or even acquisition of wealth items. Apparently, there is an issue of weak if not lack of control over these things. In psychology, the ego just wanted to feed the desire of the id that the super ego is weak and don’t have control over it. Needless to say, there are underlying reasons for someone to overly indulge himself to these kinds of material things.

The National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders states that approximately eight million people in the U.S. have anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and related eating disorders. Eight million people represent about three percent (3%) of the total population.  On the other hand, according to WHO, worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths (3.2% of total) and 58.3 million (4% of total) of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Unintentional injuries alone account for about one third of the 1.8 million deaths, while neuro-psychiatric conditions account for close to 40% of the 58.3 million DALYs. In this regard, the life of many people is in jeopardy as this phenomenon continues to rise.

The great Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst who founded analytical psychology was once asked, “What do you think will solve the problem of people who are addicted to drugs and into other forms of addiction?” He replied, “The person has to recognize and be in communion with his Supreme Being for him to be able to control his addiction.”

In Proverbs 23:20-21 warns us, “Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” Likewise, in Proverbs 28:7 declares, “He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.”

I remember my personal struggle which I shared to my community where I have acquired a lot of shoes, clothes and watches. I am not proud sharing this but I know the reason why I have accumulated such a large amount of these material things. I also remember my counselee telling me that he hates his mother for being to obsess with branded stuff like Louis Vuitton, Prada and the like.

I know that many of us are exposed to all these material things which sometimes separate us from GOD. We cannot control our earthly desire to consume and collect as it gives us a good feeling and sense of pride as a human being. But with GOD, we all know that we can control everything if we truly put our mind, heart and soul into everything that we do. I remember the saying, “In everything you do put GOD first and HE will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

Let it be our prayer and recite every day, “I have CONTROL because GOD is with me!”