We continue our series on the Seven Deadly Sins of Family this morning by looking at gluttony. Speaking on gluttony is really personal for all of us. Some of you have a lifelong battle for power and control with food. This impacts the way we look and the way we feel about ourselves. Yet, we are going to discover that the issue is bigger than our weight.
My hope is to address this sensitive topic with as much pastoral empathy as possible. Find Joshua 7 in your Bibles if you will. And note there are pew Bibles in front of you (NRHBC) or underneath of you (Cross Church) didn’t bring a copy of God’s Word.
A Quick Review
Again, we’re focusing on the Seven Deadly Sins. Some of you are guests and so let me get you up to speed. Now, you will never find the seven deadly sins listed in your Bibles. Believers years ago have organized and popularized these seven deadly vices as a means to warn fellow believers about toxic behavior.
The chief sin of all the 7 deadly sins is pride where all the other vices work under this chief vice, the vice of pride. You heard about the woodpecker was pecking on a pine tree when suddenly a bolt of lightning hit it and split it right down the middle. He looked at it, backed off for a while, flew away, later on he was seen flying back with nine other woodpeckers. He said, “There it is gentlemen, right over there.” Pride is an attitude of independence from God: “I don’t need you, God. Stay out of my life. I can handle it myself.”
Next, there is envy. Envy is when I resent you for your success. Envy can kill the harmony of your family. Anger makes the list of the seven deadly sins because for centuries people have witnessed its destructive power and influence. Next up on the docket is apathy. Apathy sneaks up on us live a Navy Seal approaching his target with tremendous stealth Surely you have responded to someone with “Whatever?” Apathy happens when we’ve lost our purpose in life. Lastly, our fifth deadly sin for families is greed. Don’t you dare underestimate the good you can do if you’re generous with God’s possessions. Now all sin is deadly but the 7 Deadly Sins are some of the biggest problems we can find ourselves in.
And today, we deal with our sixth deadly sin is gluttony. Obesity has become a public health crisis in the United States. The medical condition, which involves having an excessive amount of body fat, is linked to severe chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and cancer. Obesity causes one of five deaths in American each year.
This a series devoted to family. We want help your family be strong in Christ and so we are offering a unique opportunity this Sundays. Responding to your questions today is Danny Hart (Licensed Professional Counselor). Your family may have some obstacles that go deeper than a sermon series. We invite you to text your questions regarding your family, I want to invite to text the word FAMILY to 817-339-6633. You can text questions about any topic related to family and marriage.
Today, let’s focus on one man’s gluttony who messed up things for entire nation.
Today’s Scripture
“But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the Lord burned against the people of Israel” (Joshua 7:1).
Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath. And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the Lord. And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor. And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones (Joshua 7:19-25).
Background to Today’s Passage
Let me step aside from gluttony for a moment to give us a little background on this part of our Bibles. Joshua is the sixth book from the beginning of your Bible and the events of the book are around 1,300 to 1,400 years before the time of Jesus. I need to help clear an obstacle here at the beginning so we can focus on God’s message. This is a section of your Bibles where the nation of Israel is instructed by God to rid the Promised Land of an evil group of people. God says to Joshua, the leader of Israel at this time: “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses” (Joshua 1:3). And he repeats His command a few verses later: “Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them” (Joshua 1:6). A number of people, including me, struggle with this book. There is blood, warfare, and killing of women and children even. Atheist Richard Dawkins says this of Joshua’s destruction of Jericho: “[It’s] morally indistinguishable from Hitler’s invasion of Poland, or Saddam Hussein’s massacres of the Kurds …” While I think Dawkins’ quote is for shock value from atheism’ shock jock, I have grown a little queasy at the idea of God commanding His people to kill even women and children. God says to Joshua, “Go in and clean house, and don’t leave anything breathing! Don’t leave a donkey, child, woman, old man or old woman breathing. Wipe out Jericho.”
First, you need to be aware these were people beyond saving (Genesis 15:16; Leviticus 18:21-30; 20:2-5; Deuteronomy 12:29-31). As I thought of this message and this revolting command from God some 3,000 years ago, I watched the evening news this week. CBS News sent a reporter into a Northern Syrian refuge camp recently which is an ISIS stronghold. In an ISIS propaganda video, women send a message from the camp. We're a ticking bomb, one says, just you wait and see. In another online video, young boys chant that they'll crush the heads of non-believers. One guard even went so far as to say the entire camp is effectively an ISIS academy. Now, I am not here to suggest foreign policy, but when women and children are trained like this, it does give me pause. According to our Old Testament, the people of the land widely practiced child sacrifice, incest, bestiality, and other behaviors that almost everyone in history, including today, rightly regard as unspeakably, grossly immoral.
Here’s a second reason and this may seem abrupt for some: God is God and He doesn’t need my justification and my support for what He does. So with that obstacle cleared up a little, let’s look at the story of battle in the ancient city of Ai.
Preview
I want you to see the Essence of Gluttony,
the Anatomy of Gluttony
and lastly, the Solution to Gluttony.
1. The Essence of Gluttony
Gluttony is excessive greed for food. That gluttony is a sin may even surprise you. Most of us don’t think of food as a spiritual item but more of a weight loss and self-help item. We don’t think of God when we overeat but we may think of the shame we feel before others.
1.1 Food is a Gift
There are changing perceptions over the centuries as to what looks good in men and women. We are health conscious today as we are bombarded with commercials for Peloton bikes and Slim4Life. Yet, it’s important to note that food is a gift of God to be enjoyed. Under the Mosaic law, the Israelites were expected to devote a tenth of their grain, wine, and oil to the Lord each year by eating it in his presence at the tabernacle (Deuteronomy 14:22–23). If they lived far from the tabernacle, they could sell their tithe and bring the money with them on their pilgrimage. Once they finished their journey, they were to convert the money back into food and feast before the Lord: “[S]pend the money,” God instructed them, “and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.”
So God isn’t against a good feast from time to time.
1.2 The Problem of Gluttony
Yet, the Bible also warns us about the problems food can be for us. First, food can become “god replacement,” or an idol: “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (Philippians 3:19-20). And even if food doesn’t replace our God, we know food can get us in trouble. Let’s not forget that it was some kind of food that got us all in trouble with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)!
Former First Lady, Michelle Obama, waged war against overweight kids with her campaign called, Let’s Move. School lunch programs are a political football in our day. Soda machines have been changed from our more smart snacks in schools. Berkeley, California came up with a Soda Tax in 2016 that the tax led to a 21% drop in the consumption of sugary drinks. Get this: the collective obesity by teenagers projects to 1.5 million life-years lost due to their excessive weight. And think of the Super Bowl with me for a moment. This past Super Bowl, Americans consumed 1.3 billion wings, 2 million pizzas, over 300 million gallons of beer, and 88 million pounds of cheese. Yes, we are a nation that loves to eat in large quantities.
1.3 The Story of Ai & Achan
As we turn our attention to the story of Joshua, we need to know that the nation just defeated the city of Jericho. The dust is still settling from the walls falling when it’s on to the next city. The camera lens of the Bible focuses on one man, Achan, who took something that looked really appealing but he shouldn’t have taken. The Bible says, God was angry because he did this (Joshua 7:1). God had specifically commanded everyone in the battle against Jericho with these words found in Joshua 6:18-19: “But you, keep yourselves from the things devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted them you take any of the devoted things and make the camp of Israel a thing for destruction and bring trouble upon it. 19 But all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and iron, are holy to the Lord; they shall go into the treasury of the Lord” (Joshua 6:18-19).
The battle against Jericho is finished when the little city of Ai is next. Look at something really carefully, God purposefully limits the number of people who go to battle at the city of Ai to around 3,000 (Joshua 7:3). More than 600,000 Israelite men 20 years old and older were able to serve around this time (Numbers 26:51). God is merciful even in His anger. 36 men are killed because of Achan’s actions (Joshua 7:5). Look at how a good man (Joshua) reacts to this whole thing: “And Joshua said, ‘Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan’” (Joshua 7:7)!
Take careful note of this common fact: we sin and God gets the blame. Joshua immediately concluded God wanted to destroy him. He did not even consider the possibility that there might be sin in his troops for a moment.
1.4 It’s None of Your Business
Notice the first three words of verse 11 with me: “Israel has sinned…” (Joshua 7:11a). Achan acted alone but verse 1 mentions “But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things…” (Joshua 7:1a). Sometimes church members say to a pastor, or to a well-meaning friend who’s trying to correct them, “Well, it’s none of your business.” I want to tell you something, friend, it is some of my business what you do and it is some of your business what I do because we rise and fall together. One of these days you’ll face your God and He’ll say, “Not only am I going to hold you responsible for your personal sin, but I’m going to hold you responsible for the defeat of your brothers. You’re a part of an army and you failed.” Remember, we rise and fall together.
1. The Essence of Gluttony
2. The Anatomy of Gluttony
Have you heard this: “Inside me there’s a skinny women trying to get out but I usually shut her up with some cookies.” Seriously, I want you to see the anatomy of gluttony and really the anatomy of sin in general. Now, God had commanded His people before battle not to take anything from the conquered people.God says in effect, “You’re not pirates. You’re not here to plunder.” But one man didn’t care. Listen to how Achan describes his own actions to Joshua: “And Achan answered Joshua, ‘Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath’” (Joshua 7:20-21).
2.1 Step One: I Saw
Listen to Achan’s own words at the end of verse 20: “…and this is what I did: 21 when I saw…” (Joshua 7:20b-21a). The first step of temptation is to move from noticing to gazing. “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” (James 1:14-15). Many desires are good when they are kept within the guidelines God provides. The desire for rest is good and essential but it is a sin when it turns to laziness. The desire for sex is good within a marriage relationship, but adultery is always wrong. In the words of James we are “lured.” Much like a bait before a fish. Why do you think we call prostitutes “hookers?” Why do we say that dope addicts are “hooked” on drugs? The Greek word for “lured” in James 1:14 is also a hunter's word. It literally means “caught in a trap.” It refers to how hunters would bait traps to catch animals.
Step One: I Saw
2.2 Step Two: I Weighed
Look at what Achan says next, “…and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels…” (Joshua 7:21b). Evidently his eyes were so drawn to the shiny objects in the ground that he weighed them out. He noticed these objects so carefully that probably first guessed their weight and then he eventually knew their weight for certain. Sin is always an inflammation of the imagination. The Bible intentionally says at the end of the Ten Commandments, “You shall not covet…” (Exodus 20:17a). It is not the first glance but the second stare that causes you trouble.
1. The Essence of Gluttony
2. The Anatomy of Gluttony
3. The Solution to Gluttony
3.1 Watch Your Gaze
Achan paid dearly for his sinful actions (Joshua 7:25-26). When we gaze at something and our mind starts turning around and around at the possibilities of owning it, this is coveting. This is exactly what Eve did – she craved something that was wrong.
Battle your cravings. There are certain places you have no business being in. There are certain people that do not help you fight the temptation of gluttony. And there are certain times that you know you will succumb to the temptation of sin. Battle your cravings by watching your gaze.
3.2 Replace and Repent
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
I began to reflect upon my father’s death when I was around 35 years of age. Even though some medical mistakes precipitated his death, I remember when I learned he had coronary disease at his autopsy. I was around 36 at the time and I remember thinking to myself, “His DNA is running around in me. What am I going to do to change this? How could I be around a long time for my kids, and possible grandkids? How can I best serve in my life’s calling? How can I best love and serve my wife?” His death at age 64 impacted me and set me to thinking about all these questions. I needed to do an inventory of my eating habits to see how I can best honor the Lord and serve others.
I believe that the practical and the spiritual work together here. Replacing sitting in front of the TV with walking. Replacing time on the XBOX with time outside. Adopting a healthy diet.
