God's Coaching #186

God's Coaching #186

Joey Chestnut knew how to pig out! In July of 2009, Joey set a world record by eating 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Nicknamed “Jaws,” he took home $20,000 by eating all those hot dogs in Coney Island, New York. Eating competitions have come a long way since the first hot-dog-eating contest was held in 1916. The winner of that one only had to put away 13 frankfurters to claim first place. Joey’s modern accomplishments are enough to make your stomach hurt!

And if it doesn’t hurt now, just think about eating eight pounds of pork ribs in 12 minutes. That’s what Joey did to win the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off’s eating competition in 2010. It was the skinny 26-year-old’s fourth win in five years at the event. And this victory was all about technique. Joey slid the meat off each bone with his hands and ate it in a ball instead of taking individual bites off the bone.

What’s the Score?

Joey was America’s top professional eater, holding world eating records for hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, steak, asparagus, macaroni and cheese, and jalapeño peppers. You might think Joey’s accomplishments are disgusting, amazing, entertaining, or all of the above. But millions of people around the world would give anything for just a small portion of what he ate in one contest.

Joey ate a whopping amount of food for the sake of competition, but for some people, gluttony (greedy or excessive overeating) is a real physical and spiritual problem. The city of Sodom in the Bible is famous for its evil ways, and the Bible tells us gluttony was one of its big sins. Ezekiel makes it clear that it isn’t just overeating that is sinful, but overindulging at the expense of those in need: “Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door” (Ezekiel 16:49).

It’s easy for us to take our plenty, including food, for granted. God cares about our attitudes in all things, even eating. Instead of pigging out as much as you can, watch for ways to share food with others around you . . . and around the world.

On the Ball

Instead of counting how many hot dogs you can eat, count how many you can give away. Volunteer at a local food pantry. Or organize a cookout at your church or a local shelter for people in need of a meal.

Coach’s Comment

Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. Ezekiel 16:49