Gluttony: Training Your Body for Eternity

Scripture:

Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. Philippians 3:19

Calibrate:

I want to both encourage and challenge how you view your physical body. Yes, Scripture is clear that you will be renewed one day in Eternity. Then why would I not choose to live like my future self in Eternity today? When we start to see oursleves today how God sees us for millenniumX then we can possibly get to deeper root issues.

This is not rooted in fear, guilt, or shame. My desire is to help you step off the New Year’s yo-yo track and move toward the disciplined impact you say you want. Friends, I am deeply aware that this body is wasting away. But that truth is often used as a justification for indulgence rather than a call to stewardship.

Recently, I heard a man in his forties explain that he had plenty of weight to lose—but shrugged it off because he “won’t have this body forever.” Here’s the honest question: Why do we excuse food addiction while confronting alcoholism? Why has pursuing health become odd—or even suspect—in Christian circles? We would lovingly challenge an alcoholic in our church to change. Yet we quietly justify gluttony, secrecy, and lack of discipline in ourselves. In scripture this is very clearly called self-control. Please stop defending poor behavior and projecting that defensiveness onto others.

We have a gluttony issue in our culture—from our churches (I grew up on pot-lucks and three trips back was the norm) to the private visit to the fast-food drive-through, where the evidence is thrown away before getting home. Your physical discipline is spiritual discipline because it reveals your heart and habits.

Insight:

There is no longer a decision to be made about my physical fitness. When Jessica and I lived in Las Vegas, I began thinking seriously about turning thirty and the kind of life I wanted to live for decades ahead. I started training for triathlons, marathons, and was introduced to CrossFit before it went coast to coast (pre-2008). I sustained those disciplines for years—until I entered a season of vocational burnout with four young girls at home. My health slipped. And here’s the lesson I’ve told friends and coaching clients ever since: Without a clear “why,” discipline erodes. I didn’t lack information. I lacked structure, vision, and accountability.

Today, I’ve logged over 1,700 workouts using the BTWB app and CrossFit Linchpin programming. This is not about perfection—it’s about a decision for the decades ahead. I deeply believe our decisions today effect our decades and our belief about eternity.

A decade ago, my stepfather was diagnosed with cancer. If you’ve ever walked alongside someone with cancer, you know this: people immediately change how they eat. That moment forced deeper questions: What would we change if we were diagnosed tomorrow? We made a list—and then committed to changing it slowly. Not all at once. Not perfectly. One decision at a time. You can pay for your health now as an investment—or make painful withdrawals later. As the saying goes; "Choose your hard."

Journal:

• Where do I consistently overindulge to avoid emotional presence?
• What does my relationship with food reveal about what I’m using to self-soothe?
• How has bodily indulgence impacted my clarity, energy, patience, or even intimacy with my wife?
• What would change if I believed I had the fruit of the Spirit; "self-control?"

Action:

Take this 7-day embodied food challenge:

Slow down. Notice the food you are eating. Savor it. Before you pray and take your first bite, stop and observe what’s in front of you. Consider how God designed food to fuel—not numb—your body. Ask yourself: Am I present right now? This is a simple invitation. You may not need another hack, discipline, or workout plan. You may need to pay attention. Bonus (for high achievers): Write down everything you eat for seven days—pen and paper, no apps. At the end of the week, ask: What did I learn about what I’m consuming—and why?

Coaching, Training, and Speaking in 2026

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Be Strong, Lantz Howard www.lantzhoward.com

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