Vice & Virtue: Gluttony & Sloth
Matthew 6
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Being Human...
- Brocado
"I'm starving."
- Tá tuirse orm
"Tiredness is upon me."
Every human heart knows hunger.
Every human heart knows weariness.
The question is:
Where do we take them?
Gluttony
Gluttony promises:
"More will satisfy me... or at least distract me."
Gluttony may be trying to solve:
- Emptiness
- Loneliness
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
Virtue: Temperance
Learning to receive enough.
Sloth
Sloth whispers:
"If I stop trying, I won't hurt anymore."
Sloth may be trying to solve:
- Weariness
- Discouragement
- Compassion Fatigue
- Resignation
Virtue: Diligence
Faithful participation rooted in hope.
Jesus' Invitation
"Your heavenly Father knows that you need them."
Jesus does not shame our hunger.
Jesus does not shame our weariness.
He teaches us to trust the Father.
Practices
Fasting
Trust God with your hunger.
Sabbath
Trust God with your limits.
The Good News
Gluttony says,
More.
Sloth says,
Why bother?
Jesus says,
Your Father knows.
A Litany of Vice & Virtue
Leader: God of truth and grace, You created all things good.
People: Yet we have twisted Your gifts and trusted our own understanding.
Leader: Where pride has distorted our sight,
People: Teach us humility and help us see as You see.
Leader: Where vice has broken communion with You, with others, and with creation,
People: Restore us through the life of Christ and the power of Your Spirit.
Leader: Take what is disordered within us and put it back into Your good order.
People: Redeem our desires, our thoughts, our habits, and our loves.
Leader: Where we have grasped for control,
People: Teach us trust.
Leader: Where we have withheld love,
People: Teach us virtue.
Leader: Form in us the character of Christ.
People: That Your grace may flow through us into the world.
Leader: Sanctify us wholly—spirit, soul, and body.
People: Until Your love is perfected in us. Amen.
Questions to Consider:
- Where in your life are you hungry?
- Where in you life are you weary?
- What are you reaching for to satisfy?
- What has God already provided?
- What would it look like to trust God today?
