The word of God places the sin of gluttony in the same catalogue with drunkenness. So offensive was this sin in the sight of God that He gave directions to Moses that a child who would not be restrained on the point of appetite, but would gorge himself with anything his taste might crave, should be brought by his parents before the rulers in Israel and should be stoned to death. The condition of the glutton was considered hopeless. He would be of no use to others and was a curse to himself. No dependence could be placed upon him in anything. His influence would be ever contaminating others, and the world would be better without such a character; for his terrible defects would be perpetuated. None who have a sense of their accountability to God will allow the animal propensities to control reason. Those who do this are not Christians, whoever they may be and however exalted their profession. The injunction of Christ is: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” He here shows us that we may be as perfect in our sphere as God is in His sphere. {4T 454.3}

Guds ord sætter grådighedens synd i samme kategori som fordrukkenhed. Så anstødelig var denne synd i Guds øjne, at han gav Moses anvisninger om, at et barn (455) som ikke kunne beherske sin appetit, men ville fylde sig med alt velsmagende, skulle af sine forældre bringes frem for Israels herskere og stenes til døde. Grovæderens tilstand blev betragtet som håbløs. Han ville ikke være til nytte for andre og var en forbandelse for sig selv. Han kunne ikke få noget ansvar i noget som helst. Hans indflydelse vil altid besmitte andre og verden ville være bedre uden en sådan karakter; for hans frygtelige mangler ville foreviges. Ingen som har fornemmelse af deres ansvar for Gud, vil tillade dyriske lidenskaber kontrollere fornuften. Dem som gør dette er ikke kristne, hvem de end er og hvor høj deres bekendelse end er. Kristi formaning er: »Så vær da I fuldkomne, som jeres himmelske Fader er fuldkommen.« Her viser han os at vi kan være ligeså fuldkomne i vor omgangskreds, som Gud er i sin.