The Sin Often Dismissed Even By Those Who Manage Their Weight
It should be on our #1 list of reasons why boredom is prevalent, why?
How in the world can overindulging in the pursuit of worldly pleasure not be the ultimate cure for a lack of excitement and satisfaction?
And so, does this boredom have a remedy?
Why is boredom never a subject of conversation in our churches, yet we Christians claim, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice.”
Are Christians the happiest people on earth?
The New Trend Called Boredom
Interestingly, research [1] shows that over 60% of people experience boredom.
While smartphones and social media were designed to connect us and provide instant information, they’ve ironically led to negative consequences.
But don’t worry—the solution isn’t to ditch all your devices and go off-grid. Instead, it’s about practicing discipline in how we use them.
We all long for lasting happiness. Is there a secret to it? Yes, it’s Jesus.
But if you’ve known about Him for a while, you might wonder why ups and downs still sway you.
Pleasure is God’s Gift To You
Gluttony comes from the Latin gluttire, meaning “to swallow” or “gulp down.”
However, it’s more than just a ravenous appetite—it’s a lack of temperance, or the failure to use good things in moderation and to avoid bad things altogether.
God has given us many pleasures, such as food, relationships, music, exercise, worship, lovemaking, novelty, and nature. These are all good gifts, free from corruption, meant for our enjoyment.
You might think the Garden of Eden was just about worship, but did you know that Eden means [2] Garden of Pleasure?
The Devil, in his aim to make us miserable, imposed a curse on humanity, leading us to sin and turn away from God. Our ability to distinguish right from wrong and understand what is enough has been corrupted.
God’s good gifts to us have become potential tools for our downfall.
Exclusive sex meant for committed relationships is now distorted into casual sex; the blessing of nutrition has turned into unhealthy eating; music is now often used to glorify self; and our cleverness in creating helpful tools has been twisted into inventing destructive pleasures like drugs and addictive gaming.
Spiritual Gluttony
The vice of Gluttony can manifest in many subtle ways, often disguised in forms that might seem harmless or even virtuous.
In church settings, it might be our obsession with the order of activities, the conduct of services, or the collection of offerings, so much so that we forget to feed our spirits with God’s word.
It can also appear in our focus on perfecting our singing voices, prioritizing technique over heartfelt worship.
The underlying issue is our tendency to concentrate on the external aspects of our activities, neglecting the true worship of God in spirit and truth.
Take, For Example, Woman X
She is a devoted church member who dedicates her life to serving in various church activities.
She cleans the sanctuary, plans church programs, and designs brochures.
On the surface, her dedication seems commendable.
However, the problem arises when we learn that she is also a mother of three and a wife to a supportive husband, all of whom deserve her attention and care.
Eventually, her family, feeling neglected, hold a meeting to remind her of her responsibilities at home.
Could this be you?
In your desire to give your all to Christ, are you sacrificing your family, friends, personal well-being, and livelihood?
As a Christian, can you truly devote yourself to 24 hours of prayer without neglecting the other aspects of your life that also require your attention?
True or False
Haven’t quite figured out if you’re starring in this hit show of Gluttony?
Here’s a test for you to determine if you might be lacking.
Grand Pursuit of Pleasure
Tyler is a rich, intelligent, well-clad, muscular, seemingly well-collected, less impulsive young gentleman.
He decided it was time to walk into the psychologist’s office and finally drop the bombshell of his psychological issue.
“I’m bored.”
Yes, even the psychologist’s eyebrows did flinch. How could someone with everything—a rich wife, sports cars, luxury vacations, and extravagant parties—be bored?
I know many would wish to face this kind of problem, as Kenyans would say, “Heri kulia kwa Range Rover kuliko kucheka kwa bodaboda.”
The feeling was so awful that he wished to be poor again so that he could keep his life on his toes and experience new challenges that would make life a novelty.
In the next therapy session, the psychologist hit him with the big question, “What guides your life? Money? Power? Fame?”
After some thought, Tyler admitted his main pursuit was pleasure. And that, ironically, was the root of his boredom and disinterest in life.
Priority & Self-Control
We were all created to have our first affection for our loving God. We are part of His Kingdom, and He knows what is best for us.
The 1st and 10th commandments lay the principles of Priority and Self-control.
If God isn’t our top priority, something else will take His place, leading to temporary pleasures that ultimately leave us empty.
It’s often said that our greatest mental struggle is a lack of self-control. In a world where sensuality is celebrated over logic, the Devil works tirelessly to awaken our carnal desires, steering us away from God and toward selfish pursuits.
Just as Jesus told the rich young ruler, [3] he lacked love for God above all else and love for others as himself.
The key to self-control is self-sacrificing love. Through worship and meaningful occupation, we find true contentment. “Choose today whom you will serve.” [4]
With God, you receive the principles that bring lasting joy, contentment, and freedom from addiction.
Here’s How You Can Deal With Gluttony
Aligning our priorities and embracing Jesus as our beacon of self-control is the guaranteed means to bury this sin.
When confronted by the tempting knocks of Gluttony, let these convictions stand as your reliable defense, guiding you toward a physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally rich life with meaning.
- Don’t buy what you don’t need; it will never satisfy you.
- Little is much when God is in it.
- We can only fight over junk food and less likely over a bowl of fruits (non-addictive substances)
- Dumbify your phones to prioritize your needs; excessive use of social media decreases happiness.
- All that we have (talents and possessions) are God’s and should be used for His service.
INSPIRATION
1. What Your Counselor Never Told You by Dr. William Backus
2. The Lost Art of Thinking by Neil Nedley M.D
3. King James Bible
