The Perils of Being Full

Lest when thou hast eaten and art full… Deu 8:12 

Greed is Subtle

Nothing has the potential to reveal our capacity for depravity like food and money does. The sight at a buffet table always excites passions as everything is usually calm as the people wait out at the conference or party room. But all hell breaks loose when they rise up to go to be filled.

My mother used to admonish us to ‘cover’ our stomachs when we were full. That is because that was the time when we were most liable to forget ourselves. As a former alcoholic I can testify that nothing makes one feel invincible as booze does.

That is also the time when kings are wont to become reckless. King Ahasuerus lost his queen Vashti for good after seven days of wanton feasting, and ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?’ boasted Nebuchadnezzar.

And then it was while he was busy running away from King Saul’s wrath in the wilderness that David’s behavior was excellent. But it was when he was full and idle that he ‘walked upon the roof of the king's house’, and the world shall never forget Bathsheba.

Testimonies abound about how some people were once very loyal church goers and very close to God until ‘he heard their prayers, and he blessed them’, and that was usually the end of their relationship.

And so man without God would be totally depraved.

So are Riches to be Spurned?

It depends on the context. ‘The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it’ (Pro 10:22). And I think it was on this wise that God (aware of our natural desires) said to seek his kingdom first, ‘for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things’ (Mat 6:32).  But likewise ‘There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked’ (Isa 57:21).  

Paul’s teaching about Money is also True as Experience Bears him out

‘But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows’ (1Ti 6:9-10).  

And this is so because a Christian’s chief calling is first and foremost ‘a high calling’, as it is written, ‘If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God’ (Col 3:1-3).  

But it becomes very easy to lose sight of this when our occupation is also taken up with much ‘serving the tables’ rather than dwelling on ‘the ministry of the word.’ Paul’s counsel therefore is on the minister of God to keep himself from these earthly or fleshly desires, ‘But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses’ (1Ti 6:11-12).  

But for those who are rich Paul counsels against becoming enslaved by the same, ‘Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life’ (1Ti 6:17-19).  

But in Everything Rather Give Thanks

Likewise it should never be lost that it is God who gives one the power to become wealthy (Deu 8:18) or the lack thereof (and not necessarily because it is the work of the devil),  ‘The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them’ (1Sa 2:7-8). 

So it is rather incumbent upon us that we thank God in everything rather than to be engaged in grumbling and falling prey to bitterness: ‘Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer’ (Rom 12:12).   

For it is actually a sin not to enjoy the life God has given us, ‘And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee’ (Deu 26:11a).

Finally there is the Need for Self-control or Discipline in Everything we do

Moments of self-reflection or fasting are profitable and should be encouraged, for they afford one calmness, soberness and self-control: ‘For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come’ (1Ti 4:8).

Equally it is written that, ‘There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God’ (Ecc 2:24). 

Life is beautiful. But to doubt that is to invite perpetual gloom. And yes God is still ‘able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think’. Let us pray: Lord, you came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly according to your word, please open our eyes to this fact in everything that we do. Amen.