During our current series on 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Virtues we have been using a Cherokee parable. This parable speaks of an old grandfather speaking to his grandson of about how life is like having two wolves that live inside us. One is good and the other is evil. And how things turn out in life has much to do with which wolf we feed. You will find in the scriptures below that gluttony and temperance are more than just about food. Give some time to read these scripture lessons and consider the questions below.
Gluttony:
Ecclesiastes 6:7-9
All human toil is for the mouth, yet the appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage have the wise over fools? And what do the poor have who know how to conduct themselves before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire; this also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
Below are two statements;
- Gluttony is what we unite ourselves to
- Gluttony is first and foremost excessive
Qs. When are these statements true of food?
Can you think of examples of when those 2 statements are true about things other than food?
Temperance:
Matthew 5:6 (a blessing)
‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’
Luke 16:19-25 (a parable)
‘There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. He called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.
Qs. Jesus uses a food parable to mark extreme distance that can exist between people.
One of the early accusations against Jesus was that he was a ‘glutton.’
We can assume from the accusation that Jesus did food well.
Think of several examples where food draws people closer?
