~ Proverbs 23:20-21
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The book of Proverbs speaks often about self-control and wisdom, but here Solomon names two specific dangers: drunkenness and gluttony. Both involve overindulgence, both enslave, and both end in ruin.
The Hebrew word for “gluttonous eaters” literally describes those who “feast excessively” or “devour with greed.” It is not about the occasional feast of celebration but about a lifestyle of uncontrolled appetite. Notice how closely Solomon places gluttony alongside drunkenness. We are quick to condemn the drunkard but often overlook the glutton. Yet both are driven by the same heart issue: lack of self-control and surrender to craving.
The outcome is clear: “poverty” and “slumber.” In other words, wasted resources and wasted potential. Overindulgence drains strength, dulls the mind, and consumes what could be used for better purposes. What begins as pleasure ends as bondage.
This connects powerfully to the biblical health message. Just as alcohol erodes health and judgment, so does habitual overeating. The results may not show immediately, but the long-term harvest is poverty of health disease, fatigue, and shortened vitality. The imagery of “slumber” also warns us of spiritual dullness.
When the body is weighed down by excess, the spirit often becomes sluggish too. Jesus Himself warned against this: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap” (Luke 21:34).
Why does Scripture tie these together so firmly? Because both gluttony and drunkenness reveal a deeper issue of misplaced satisfaction. They are counterfeit comforts. Instead of finding joy and strength in the Lord, we turn to food or drink to fill what only God can satisfy. The drunkard seeks escape, the glutton seeks pleasure, but both end up empty.
The call of Proverbs is not only to avoid these habits but also to avoid the company of those enslaved by them. Influence is powerful. If we spend our lives among those who normalize indulgence, we risk being shaped by it. Wisdom calls us to surround ourselves with those who pursue discipline, holiness, and health—not to isolate from the world but to guard against its patterns.
For the modern believer, Proverbs 23:20–21 is a mirror. It asks: where am I sowing? Do my habits reflect self-control or surrender to appetite? Do my companions encourage holiness or normalize excess?
The good news is that the Spirit of God offers freedom. Self-control is not willpower alone it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23). Through Him, we can find strength to resist excess, discipline to live wisely, and joy that no indulgence can rival.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from the traps of overindulgence, whether in food, drink, or anything else. Teach me to live with self-control, wisdom, and joy in You. Surround me with people who encourage holiness, and let my life point others to the satisfaction found only in You. Amen.
