Gluttony

Someone demonstrating gluttony, can cause an awkward moment!

Eating comes to mind first. The glutton will 'butt' into line, fill his/her plate without regard to the others yet to eat, or for the hands which prepared it. Stuffing in the food with abandon- those seated nearby might be treated to visuals unbecoming, even sickening; auditory evidence of the glutton's actions may enhance the visual effects.

In fact, at first glance to the definitions of gluttony- excessive eating indeed stands out. Even church leaders of the Middle Ages tried to define gluttony from a theological view point- mostly lending toward eating habits... Some theologians going as far to name gluttony as one of the 'Seven Deadliest Sins', an unpardonable sin entailing a total loss of grace. However, continuing this from a Wikipedia site on gluttony "Gluttony is not universally considered a sin; depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. The relative affluence of the society can affect this view both ways. A wealthy group might take pride in the security of having enough food to eat to show it off, but it could also result in a moral backlash when confronted with the reality of those less fortunate."

The website also states, "Gluttony, derived from the Latin gluttire meaning to gulp down or swallow, means over-indulgence and over-consumption of food, drink, or intoxicants to the point of waste. "

May I be as bold as to take the more general definition and lay it out as a larger covering. To take it more in principle, and expand its application in practice. Focusing in on the aspects of "gulping; over-indulging, to the point of waste".

Although some of us may be quick to point a finger at a table-neighbor who is displaying gluttony as if it were a glory; my grandmother would have been quick to remind us that 'there are three of our fingers pointing back at us'! Perhaps our gluttony shows up on our credit card statement, sexual actions, a hobby, sports, gossip....

With that, I am convicted to self-examine my own life, to root out any glutton tendencies within myself. Yes, well- at the core of a glutton would be self. Thinking only of pleasing oneself in any given situation- I might even be 'sophisticating' my actions by falsely chalking it up to being a 'passionate' person. Perhaps, at first, the actual thing about which I am now gluttonous, began as a common felt-need to a lot of humanity...innocent, natural, desirable- in and of itself. It is a quick-slide in any area of our life to become filled with gluttony's twin: greed.

These desires then, at root, are usually ones that are common to mankind. That then should startle us into the realization that anyone of us could slip into gluttony/greed- and that is even a natural bent within each of us!. 'Water runs quickly where meeting the least resistance.'!

Instead of pointing that finger at others- remember what grandma used to say, and take a good hard look at yourself first. There are plenty of triggers around us on a regular basis to cause us to take that look. I might add, if you are sincere in not wanting to slip down that gluttony-slope-- to, in that moment of meditation, turn to prayer; inviting the Holy Spirit to venture down that hallway of your mind and heart. He will gently open the door to rooms you may have thought shut, or never even knew existed...If you stick with Him, He will carefully reveal what is there- encourage you (that means give COURAGE); and will empower you to deal with what is there. Oh, sometimes He brings me back to the same room- maybe just to keep it 'dusted', maybe to clean out clutter or another corner. And incredibly- when I leave the room, with Him,there is an indescribable peace. Satiety. Fulfillment. Satisfaction. I am left no longer wanting, lacking nothing.


Do you have an area of your life that is empty. You just never feel satisfied, fulfilled...no matter how you've tried to fill it? First- you are normal. God created us with that- to be uncomfortable! It is that uncomfortableness, longing- that causes us to look to Him. And for those that do: HE IS THE ONE WHO SATISFIES. He can satisfy every area of your life... But it is up to you to let Him in. You begin with acknowledging your need of a Saviour- a 'satisfier' if you will. and then- accepting that the LORD made the way possible for this, gave you a Saviour- His name is Jesus Christ. One of God's characteristics is that He is extravagant- and so then, when you trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour- you will also receiver a Helper, who is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us to live out a holy life, while still in this natural body and all of its natural desires.

Gluttony, can be redeemed- from a destructive bent, to a life-saving reminder.

(God's life goal for us isn't to be comfortable- but to be conformed into His likeness. So next time you get uncomfortable- take a look inside, prayerfully. Maybe it is time for another walk down the hallway~)