Lenten Study: 7 Deadly Sins—Gluttony #5: Being Spiritually Nourished

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS

GLUTTONY #5:

BEING SPIRITUALLY NOURISHED

Monte W. Holland

INTRODUCTION

     The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays).  Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.

     Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.

     This year I  chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.

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THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:

GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.

THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:

#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law

#2 Defying God or rebelling against God

#3 Acts of violence to others

#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship

#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)

(GLUTTONY #5

BEING SPIRITUALLY NOURISHED

SCRIPTURE:² Why waste your money on what really isn’t food? Why work hard for something that doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will enjoy the very best foods. (Isaiah 55:2 (CEV))

² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. (Isaiah 55:2 (AMP))

Background  ¹ If you are thirsty, come and drink water! If you don’t have any money, come, eat what you want! Drink wine and milk without paying a cent. ² Why waste your money on what really isn’t food? Why work hard for something that doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will enjoy the very best foods. ³ Pay close attention! Come to me and live. I will promise you the eternal love and loyalty that I promised David. ⁴ I made him the leader and ruler of the nations; he was my witness to them. ⁵ You will call out to nations you have never known. And they have never known you, but they will come running because I am the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and I have honored you. (Isaiah 55:1-5 (CEV))

DEVOTION:  In our culture, gluttony is almost synonymous with overeating. Yet from God’s perspective, gluttony has other implications. God wonders why we aren’t more selective in what we eat. God provides. Maybe it will be spinach and broccoli, but God provides. Are we actually consuming what we really want? And that means considering more than food.

     The opposite of gluttony is temperance. Think before you act. Go first to God—and the scripture says you will live. Not only that, God extends eternal love and loyalty. The Lord offers us a broader range of friends because we choose to follow the Lord.

     One translation says Let your soul delight itself in fatness (the profuseness of spiritual joy).  It isn’t the food, but the

Lenten Study: 7 Deadly Sins—Gluttony #4: In Whom Do You Trust?

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS

GLUTTONY #4:

IN WHOM DO YOU TRUST?

MONTE W. HOLLAND

INTRODUCTION

     The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays).  Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.

     Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.

     This year I  chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:

GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.

THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:

#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law

#2 Defying God or rebelling against God

#3 Acts of violence to others

#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship

#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)

GLUTTONY #4

IN WHOM DO YOU TRUST?

SCRIPTURE: ⁴¹ Jesus was sitting in the temple near the offering box and watching people put in their gifts. He noticed that many rich people were giving a lot of money. ⁴² Finally, a poor widow came up and put in two coins worth only a few pennies. ⁴³ Jesus told his disciples to gather around him. Then he said: I tell you that this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ⁴⁴ Everyone else gave what they didn’t need. But she is very poor and gave everything she had. Now she doesn’t have a cent to live on. (Mark 12:41-44 (CEV))

Do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. (Luke 12:29 (NRSV))

DEVOTION: Have you seen signs about trust? One sign states We can’t give you credit. We trust Jesus, but all others pay cash. My favorite sign is at the car repair shop: When you die, call us to be your pall bearers, since we have had to carry this far.

     Trust is in short supply today. Airports must scan our bags and bodies for dangerous items. House and car doors remain locked most of the time. Credit checks are routine. An ID card is essential to many transactions.

     Could the poor widow make it in today’s world? I would like to think so. She probably could pick up an odd job or two without references and an ID card. She might have to

Lenten Study: 7 Deadly Sins—Gluttony #3: Themes From a Scattered Garden

LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS

GLUTTONY #3: THEMES FROM A SCATTERED GARDEN

The Rev. Bill Pieringer*

 INTRODUCTION

     The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays).  Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.

     Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.

     This year I  chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:

GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.

THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:

#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law

#2 Defying God or rebelling against God

#3 Acts of violence to others

#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship

#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)

GLUTTONY #3

THEMES FROM A SCATTERED GARDEN

The Rev. Bill Pieringer*

SCRIPTURE: “Therefore do not worry, saying what will we eat? or what will we drink? or what will we wear? ..indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  (Matthew 6:31-33)

DEVOTION:  Feeding the birds at, this time of the year, is a popular activity in Western Pennsylvania. The one problem many bird feeders face, however, is the ever present, ever persistent efforts of the gray squirrel. Anyone who has ever watched a squirrel atop a bird feeder knows a little something about gluttony. They don’t stop until they have cleaned you out.

     Over the years we have “squirrel proofed” our feeder, though it hasn’t been easy nor cheap. We removed a deck from which the squirrels would jump to our feeder. Then we purchased an aluminum cylinder

Lenten Study: 7 Deadly Sins—Gluttony #2: Eternal Riches

CAROLYN’C COMPOSITIONS

LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS

GLUTTONY #2: ETERNAL RICHES

MONTE W. HOLLAND

INTRODUCTION

     The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays).  Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.

     Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.

     This year I  chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:

GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.

THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:

#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law

#2 Defying God or rebelling against God

#3 Acts of violence to others

#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship

#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)

GLUTTONY #2:

ETERNAL RICHES

SCRIPTURE:  ²⁷ Peter replied, “Remember, we have left everything to be your followers! What will we get?” ²⁸ Jesus answered: Yes, all of you have become my followers. And so in the future world, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, I promise you will sit on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ All who have given up home or brothers and sisters or father and mother or children or land for me will be given 100 times as much. They will also have eternal life. (Matthew 19:27-30  (CEV))

 DEVOTION: Temperance is the opposite of gluttony. Temperance accepts the natural limits of pleasures and preserves this natural balance. This not only pertains to food, but to entertainment and other legitimate goods—even the company of others.

     Gluttony and greed become intertwined as many of us try to accumulate more and consume more. The richer we get, the more we can consume. Temperance is a good first step, and an appropriate step, to combat gluttony.

     How close am I to the border between greed/gluttony and generosity/ temperance? If I am really honest, I’ve crossed over most

Lenten Study: 7 Deadly Sins—Gluttony #1: I Want It All

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

LENTEN STUDY: 7 DEADLY SINS

GLUTTONY #1: I WANT IT ALL

MONTE W. HOLLAND

INTRODUCTION

     The following study is a journey through Lent, the forty-day pre-Easter season (which excludes Sundays).  Easter’s date, determined by the time of the first full moon after the Spring equinox, is very late this year.

     Traditionally, many Christians use Lent for self-examination and a renewal of their commitment to their faith.

     This year I  chose to do a devotional study on aspects of the Seven Deadly Sins, sins identified by very early Christians as key behaviors separating man from God and God’s will. The seven sins are not listed together in the Bible—each is, however, spoken about in various Scripture sites.

THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS:

GREED, ENVY, ANGER, LUST, GLUTTONY, SLOTH and PRIDE.

THE ASPECTS OF THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS ARE:

#1 Breaking the Mosaic Law

#2 Defying God or rebelling against God

#3 Acts of violence to others

#4 Failing to make proper sacrifices or worship

#5 Not living up to or reflecting God’s glory (not living as one created in God’s image)

 

GLUTTONY #1:

I WANT IT ALL

SCRIPTURE: ⁹ “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰ Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. (NIV) (Leviticus 19:9-10)

     ¹⁰ The crowds asked John, “What should we do?” ¹¹ John told them, “If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn’t have any. If you have food, share it with someone else.” ¹² When tax collectors came to be baptized, they asked John, “Teacher, what should we do?” ¹³ John told them, “Don’t make people pay more than they owe.” ¹⁴ Some soldiers asked him, “And what about us? What do we have to do?”John told them, “Don’t force people to pay money to make you leave them alone. Be satisfied with your pay.” ¹⁵ Everyone became excited and wondered, “Could John be the Messiah?” ¹⁶ John said, “I am just baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is going to come, and I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹⁷ His threshing fork is in his hand, and he is ready to separate the wheat from the husks. He will store the wheat in his barn and burn the husks with a fire that never goes out.” (CEV) (Luke 3:10-17)

DEVOTION: After many products are used, they are passed on for someone else to use. I’ve purchased many used cars. The one I currently own was a stolen car that was salvaged and sold with a reconstructed title. The original owner only put about 15,000 miles on it.

     Many people are regulars at antique shops, thrift stores, and flea-markets, seeking to purchase items someone else finished using. In this way, God entrusts items into more than one set of hands.

     Food differs from reusable items. I can give or lend the reusable items. I cannot lend my food. Food is consumed.

     We consume food: it is one use only. The apple I eat will nourish only  one person: me. In that sense, the way we accumulate, handle, and dispose of food is most important.

     I tend to be a glutton. Just follow me in line at an all-you-can-eat buffet. God’s word from Leviticus sets the tone: Gather what you need. Let the grain field be of use to more than one user—especially the poor and foreigners that are in our midst. Pick the grape vines only once. The needy may need to gather some, too.

     Are we giving from our food supply? Contributors to food pantries and soup kitchens take one step. Makers of community gardens take another step. Large producers that open their fields to gleaning take yet another step.

     The antidote to gluttony is

Burnt Fat Offerings

CAROLYN’S COMPOSITIONS

BURNT FAT OFFERINGS

SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 4:8     ‘He (the priest) shall take from it (bull) all the fat of the bull as the sin offering…..10.  as it was taken from the bull of the sacrifice of the peace offering, and the priest shall burn them on the altar of the burnt offering.”

Related Scripture:  Leviticus 4:26, 31, 35; 7:3-5; 8:16; 9:10, 19-20; 16:6, 11, 17, 25

REFLECTION: It’s inappropriate in our culture to burn the fat of the bull on the altar as a sin offering. But it isn’t inappropriate to burn our body fat. After all, in our country, one of the most obvious and greatest sins is gluttony.

     Recently, adjustments were made for healthy weights in adults. Needless to say, the weight limits were