Filling the Void: Overcoming Gluttony Through Fasting
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of gluttony, not merely as an excessive consumption of food but as a deeper spiritual issue that reflects our attempts to fill a void meant for God. This discussion is part of our Lenten series, "Shadows," where we delve into the seven deadly sins to better understand our own nature and grow closer to Christ. Gluttony, as we discussed, is not about weight or dieting but about the pursuit of immediate, tangible pleasure that distracts us from our spiritual hunger for God. This vice is particularly relevant in our culture of overconsumption, where food waste is rampant, and many still face hunger.
We reflected on the story of Jesus in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil after fasting for 40 days. Jesus' response to the temptation to turn stones into bread was a profound declaration of dependence on God, reminding us that "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." This narrative contrasts with the story of Adam and Eve, who succumbed to the temptation of gluttony in the Garden of Eden, leading to a separation from God.
Fasting, as a spiritual discipline, was highlighted as a means to combat gluttony. It helps us stand in solidarity with the poor, reveals our attachments to certain pleasures, and increases our appetite for spiritual goods. Fasting is not about deprivation but about creating space for God in our lives. It is a practice that can lead us to a deeper awareness of our dependence on God and a more profound appreciation of His provision.
As we continue through Lent, the invitation is to embrace fasting as a way to confront our own gluttonous tendencies and to deepen our relationship with God. This is not about achieving perfection but about taking faithful steps towards spiritual growth and transformation.
Key Takeaways:
- Gluttony as Spiritual Malnutrition: Gluttony is not merely about food but about seeking to fill a spiritual void with temporary pleasures. It reflects a deeper issue of spiritual malnutrition, where we turn to food for comfort instead of God. This understanding challenges us to examine our dependencies and seek fulfillment in our relationship with God. [31:46]
- Jesus' Example in the Wilderness: Jesus' response to temptation in the wilderness teaches us about reliance on God. Despite his physical hunger, Jesus chose to trust in God's provision rather than succumb to immediate gratification. This story encourages us to depend on God in our moments of weakness and to resist the temptations that seek to draw us away from Him. [21:31]
- Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline: Fasting is a powerful tool to combat gluttony and overconsumption. It helps us recognize our excesses, stand in solidarity with the poor, and develop a deeper hunger for spiritual nourishment. Fasting is not about deprivation but about creating space for God and aligning our physical needs with our spiritual desires. [35:11]
- The Role of Community in Weakness: The strength of community is evident in times of personal weakness. As we navigate our own struggles, the support and care of others can be a tangible expression of God's love and provision. This reminds us of the importance of being part of a community that reflects Christ's love and grace. [05:31]
- Balancing Feasting and Fasting: While fasting is essential, it is equally important to embrace feasting as a celebration of God's goodness. The balance between feasting and fasting reflects the rhythm of the Christian life, where we both enjoy God's creation and practice self-discipline to grow closer to Him. [38:58]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:31] - Introduction to the Seven Deadly Sins
- [09:31] - Understanding Gluttony
- [13:04] - Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness
- [18:22] - The Role of the Spirit and the Devil
- [21:31] - Jesus' Response to Temptation
- [25:20] - The Garden of Eden and Gluttony
- [28:49] - Trusting in God's Provision
- [31:46] - Gluttony as Spiritual Malnutrition
- [35:11] - Fasting as a Spiritual Discipline
- [38:58] - Practical Fasting Guidelines
- [42:00] - Balancing Feasting and Fasting
- [45:00] - Invitation to Fast
- [48:00] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Gluttony and Spiritual Fulfillment
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 4:1-4
- Genesis 3:1-6
- Deuteronomy 8:3
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Observation Questions:
1. In Matthew 4:1-4, how does Jesus respond to the devil's temptation, and what does this reveal about his priorities? [21:31]
2. What is the significance of the number 40 in the context of Jesus' fasting and temptation in the wilderness? [18:22]
3. How does the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:1-6 illustrate the concept of gluttony as discussed in the sermon? [25:20]
4. According to Deuteronomy 8:3, what lesson were the Israelites meant to learn from their time in the wilderness, and how does this relate to Jesus' response to temptation? [25:20]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' experience in the wilderness serve as a model for resisting temptation and relying on God? [21:31]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that gluttony is more about spiritual malnutrition than physical consumption? [31:46]
3. How does the sermon connect the act of fasting with standing in solidarity with the poor and recognizing our own excesses? [35:11]
4. What does the sermon imply about the role of community in supporting individuals during times of personal weakness? [05:31]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you seek immediate gratification instead of relying on God? How can you begin to change this pattern? [31:46]
2. The sermon discusses the balance between feasting and fasting. How can you incorporate both practices into your spiritual life to grow closer to God? [38:58]
3. Consider a time when you felt spiritually malnourished. What steps can you take to seek fulfillment in your relationship with God rather than temporary pleasures? [31:46]
4. How can you use fasting as a tool to become more aware of your dependencies and to create space for God in your life? [35:11]
5. In what ways can you stand in solidarity with those who are food insecure or struggling with hunger in your community? What practical steps can you take to help? [35:11]
6. Think about a recent moment of personal weakness. How did your community support you, and how can you be a source of strength for others in similar situations? [05:31]
7. Identify one specific area of overconsumption in your life. What changes can you make this week to address this and align your physical needs with your spiritual desires? [35:11]
Devotional
Day 1: Gluttony as a Misplaced Spiritual Hunger
Gluttony is not just about overeating; it is a symptom of a deeper spiritual malnutrition where we attempt to fill a void meant for God with temporary pleasures. This understanding challenges us to examine our dependencies and seek fulfillment in our relationship with God. In a culture of overconsumption, it is easy to turn to food or other material comforts for solace, but these can never truly satisfy our spiritual hunger. Instead, we are invited to recognize our true need for God and to seek Him as the source of our ultimate satisfaction. [31:46]
Isaiah 55:2-3 (ESV): "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David."
Reflection: What are some temporary pleasures you turn to for comfort? How can you begin to seek God as your source of true satisfaction today?
Day 2: Trusting in God's Provision
Jesus' response to temptation in the wilderness teaches us about reliance on God. Despite his physical hunger, Jesus chose to trust in God's provision rather than succumb to immediate gratification. This story encourages us to depend on God in our moments of weakness and to resist the temptations that seek to draw us away from Him. By following Jesus' example, we can learn to trust in God's timing and provision, even when our circumstances seem dire. [21:31]
Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV): "And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to seek immediate gratification? How can you practice trusting in God's provision instead?
Day 3: Fasting as a Path to Spiritual Clarity
Fasting is a powerful tool to combat gluttony and overconsumption. It helps us recognize our excesses, stand in solidarity with the poor, and develop a deeper hunger for spiritual nourishment. Fasting is not about deprivation but about creating space for God and aligning our physical needs with our spiritual desires. Through fasting, we can gain clarity about our attachments and grow in our dependence on God. [35:11]
Joel 2:12-13 (ESV): "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments." Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster."
Reflection: What is one area of excess in your life that you can fast from this week? How might this practice help you draw closer to God?
Day 4: The Strength of Community in Times of Weakness
The strength of community is evident in times of personal weakness. As we navigate our own struggles, the support and care of others can be a tangible expression of God's love and provision. This reminds us of the importance of being part of a community that reflects Christ's love and grace. In moments of weakness, we can lean on our community for support and encouragement, knowing that we are not alone in our journey. [05:31]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: Who in your community can you reach out to for support in your current struggles? How can you also be a source of encouragement to someone else?
Day 5: Embracing the Rhythm of Feasting and Fasting
While fasting is essential, it is equally important to embrace feasting as a celebration of God's goodness. The balance between feasting and fasting reflects the rhythm of the Christian life, where we both enjoy God's creation and practice self-discipline to grow closer to Him. By embracing this rhythm, we can cultivate a deeper appreciation for God's blessings and learn to live in gratitude and moderation. [38:58]
Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV): "Then he said to them, 'Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'"
Reflection: How can you incorporate both feasting and fasting into your spiritual practice this week? What might this balance look like in your daily life?
Quotes
Gluttony is excessive consumption depriving another human being of life-giving necessities in an attempt to fill a space always intended for God. Let me say that again. Gluttony is excessive consumption depriving another human being of life-giving necessities in an attempt to fill a space always intended for God. [00:07:22] (28 seconds)
For what does it say about me, about you, about us, that when life gets hard, our number one desire is for food and drink? In an effort to address this question and the problem of gluttony, I want to look at the life of Jesus, a moment in which he was confronted with the temptation of gluttony and then shows us a different way. [00:13:05] (29 seconds)
And by refusing to eat from that tree day after day for maybe years, we don't know, Adam and Eve continued to affirm over and over again, not only the goodness of God, what he had made, but also their love for God and their decision to live with him. [00:24:29] (23 seconds)
And when the enemy with the same playbook tries to appeal to Jesus' appetite, when he invites Jesus to put his physical needs above everything else, above his relationship with his Father, Jesus responds by saying, It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. [00:26:57] (30 seconds)
By resisting temptation, Jesus does what Adam and Eve and what humanity could not. He says, I will trust my Father for what I need. I will not sever my relationship with him by trying to figure it out on my own. I will depend on God. And I think this gets at the heart of the question of gluttony. [00:29:27] (30 seconds)
In other words, gluttony is an attempt to fill what our hearts long for with the temporary satisfaction of food. But what if instead of trying to satisfy our weakness with food, like Jesus, we depended on God? What if we went to God instead of the break room for a fifth cup of coffee? [00:32:01] (28 seconds)
You know, the danger with a teaching like this is that we take it entirely too far. Like that we start feeling guilt or shame about any pleasure taken from food, that we develop some sort of unhealthy, unhealthy obsession with food. And I want to be very clear, that is not the aim of this sermon and certainly wasn't the goal of Jesus' life. [00:32:56] (20 seconds)
And when we feast, we do so in gratitude of God. We do so to delight in him and his creation, his provision for the beautiful thing that he has done for us. Every Sunday during Lent, in fact, invites us into this beautiful tension of feasting and fasting. However, the problem for most of us in the U.S. is that all we do is feast. We never fast. [00:34:29] (32 seconds)
Richard Foster remarks that fasting reveals the things that control us. And far too often, if we were being honest with ourselves, the thing that controls us is food. Specifically, I think fasting helps us accomplish several things related to gluttony. One, fasting helps us stand in solidarity with the poor. [00:35:23] (25 seconds)
Bishop Kalia Tos-Wears writes this, The primary aim of fasting is to make us conscious of our dependence on God. If practiced seriously, the Lenten abstinence from food involves a considerable measure of real hunger and also a feeling of tiredness and physical exhaustion. [00:36:45] (22 seconds)
Remember, the goal in all of this is not perfection. It's not heroic efforts, but it's just simply faithful devotion, being willing to take a step of faith to put one step in front of the other. as we work to combat this all-too-common sin of gluttony, my question for you today is this. Will you join me in allowing your weakness, your hunger, to deepen your dependency on God? [00:40:39] (36 seconds)
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