Gluttony
Scripture:
Matthew 23:25
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Reflection:
Today I choose to fast from the sin of gluttony.
We typically associate gluttony with big holiday feasts or all you can eat buffets. And while overeating is definitely one form of gluttony, we can also understand this sin more broadly as “overindulgence”. Whenever we are overly focused on pleasure and getting more of the “good stuff” (food, experiences, wealth etc.), gluttony is creeping in. And when these good things keep us distracted and neglecting the place of God in our lives, gluttony has taken over.
Gluttony can even make its way into our spiritual lives when we focus more on the good gifts from God rather than God himself. God’s gifts such as experiencing the joy and peace of intimacy with God are good. But if we are only focused on getting those positive feelings, we are missing out on the greater good and purpose that God has for us. As we remember the death of Christ over the coming days we are reminded that faithfulness does not always feel good, but we are called to be faithful still.
Questions for Personal Reflection:
What am I most tempted to overindulge in in my life?
Are there ways in which spiritual gluttony has impacted my relationship with God?
Prayer:
Pray that God would open your heart and mind to better understand what gluttony looks like in your life and how to move forward from it. Share with God those things that you are most tempted to overindulge in and ask for forgiveness as well as wisdom and commitment to overcome gluttony.
These devotions have been adapted from “Lenten Healing: 40 Days to Set You Free from Sin” by Ken Kniepmann.
