Download Talk 4: Gluttony and Self-Control, Envy and Love/Kindness

The Seven Deadly Sins and Seven Heavenly
Virtues Series
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Gluttony is an inordinate desire to consume
more than that which one requires. This
results in over-indulgence in eating, drinking
and other pleasurable endeavours.
A huge proportion of our population suffers
from obesity. Why?
For all that is in the world--the desires of the
flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in
possessions -is not from the Father but is
from the world. [1 John 2:16]
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Everything is permissible for me, but not
everything is helpful. Everything is permissible
for me, but I will not allow anything to control
me. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is
for food, but God will put an end to both of
them. The body is not meant for sexual
immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the
body. [1 Corinthians 6:12-13]
Gluttony can be a symptom of a bigger problem
like stress, depression, fear, anxiety, boredom,
etc. We need to face them, not escape them.
Many people in Africa and Asia do not eat 3 times
a day. Some face famine. Many are very poor.
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The virtue that is opposite of gluttony is
Discipline and Self-Control.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners
run, but only one receives the prize? So run that
you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises selfcontrol in all things. They do it to receive a
perishable wreath, but we, an imperishable. So I
do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating
the air. But I discipline my body and keep it
under control, lest after preaching to others I
myself should be disqualified. [1 Corinthians
9:24-27]
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Do you know: the root word for ‘discipline’
and ‘disciple’ are the same? It comes from
“Discipulus,” meaning pupil, disciple.
To be a disciple of Christ implies a need for
self-discipline.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit.
Battling with gluttony is a lifetime battle.
[Testimony]
1.
2.
We need to look at our bodies as God’s
stewards.
We need to look at our bodies as the temples
of the Holy Spirit. You are not your own, for
you were bought with a price. So glorify God
in your body. [1 Corinthians 6:20]
3.
Practice fasting regularly; it makes us
spiritually sharp. Jesus did not say “if you
fast…” but rather “when you fast…” –
[Matthew 6:16-17].
4. We need to practice saying no to our desires;
practice temperance. Know when to stop and do
not over-indulge.
5. Be purposeful when eating – do not eat food
in front of TV!
6. We need to have balanced diet when we eat –
fruits and vegetables balanced with meat and
carbohydrates. We need to avoid fatty foods
and cut down on sugar, fizzy drinks and potato
chips [or similar food items].
7. Have a regular exercise! Keep the heart
pumping! Commit to this and help one another.
8. Deal with stress, fears, boredom and anxiety
– and do not use eating as an escape.
9. Develop an ‘appetite’ to do good things like
exercise, good hobbies, studying the Bible,
serving others ,etc.
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Those who commit the sin of envy resent that
another person has something they perceive
themselves as lacking, and wish the other
person to be deprived of it. Envy can be
directly related to the Ten Commandments,
specifically "Neither shall you desire...
anything that belongs to your neighbour".
Aquinas described envy as "sorrow for
another's good."
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Envy is innately selfish and self-centred. We
cannot rejoice in others’ good and blessings
unless it also comes to us - first and better!
Other words related to envy include: jealousy,
greed, bitterness, self-pity, spite, and
resentment.
Attitudes like: why them and not me? What
about me, me and most importantly, me?
‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ attitude.
The opposite of Envy: love and kindness.
1. Develop an attitude of gratitude for what you
have. Count your blessings!Be content with what
you have and enjoy the blessings that you have.
2. Learn to be happy with the success of others,
knowing everything comes from the Lord. The earth
is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world
and those who dwell therein. [Psalms 24:1]
3. Look for the good of others not just for yourself.
Stop looking at your belly-button [me, me, and
me!] – Introspection, and asking yourself: “what
about me?” is selfish in nature and does not help in
serving others.
4. Acknowledge that everything comes from the
Lord, “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on
the good, and sends rain on the just and on the
unjust.” [Matthew 5:45]
5. Romans 12: 9-21…outdo one another in
showing honour… Instead of envying one another,
we should outdo one another in honouring each
other.
6. Ephesians 5:2 Your life must be controlled by
love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us
as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that
pleases God.
Note: this is the end of the series: our goal is to
grow in the character to be like Christ, to reflect
the image and the likeness of God Himself. And
we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory
of the Lord, are being transformed into the
same image from one degree of glory to
another. For this comes from the Lord, who is
the Spirit. [2 Corinthians 3:18]
Our goal in this life is to be transformed so that
others will see Jesus in us – His humility, His
generosity, His purity, His zeal, His diligence,
His love and kindness, and His discipline. I
have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I
who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the
life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for
me. [Galatians 2:20]
1. Am I taking good care of my body? Do I
exercise regularly? If not, what decisions do I
need to make to take better care of God’s
temple – my body?
2. If somebody receives some blessing, do I
rejoice with them? Or do I feel bad about myself
and say “lucky them, but not me?”
3. In what ways can I grow more in self-control
and kindness?
4. Among the 7 sins, which is my weakness and
what do I need to do more about it?