Step into any shopping area or mall at Christmastime with the word “Gluttony” on your mind and you would likely soon take notice of the irony of your surroundings…people eating, drinking, spending, and hustling about – as far as the eyes can see. So with this word on my mind for December, I couldn’t help but be hyperaware of the indulgences that have surrounded me.  After all, I did ask God to reveal what He would have me learn through this Good Word Project word this month.

I also did some digging on this word. According to Oxford, the definition of “Gluttony” is “habitual greed or excess in eating.” The Britannica Online Encyclopedia describes three types of gluttons: “… [that] may be relatively undiscriminating in their taste: those who can’t wait for mealtime (‘hastily’), eat greedily with little attention to fellow diners (‘ravenously’), or keep eating after their natural hunger for food is satisfied (‘excessively’). Gluttony in the Bible is associated with overindulgence in food and drink, but as we step into our modern-day world, indulgences surround us and come in all kinds of forms as means to satisfy cravings. And sadly, “hasty”, “ravenous”, and “excessive” are words that easily describe how we might fly through the Christmas season. Unfulfilled needs and wants become filled with stuff. God-sized holes get stuffed with world-sized things. 

In my journey to learn what God wanted to reveal to me about “Gluttony” and overindulgence, I encountered a month filled with insights that were revealed in some unexpected places! God showed me that I was trying to satisfy my needs with things and not Him.

The Amazon purchase that reminded me of the importance of priorities.

This lesson culminated in my last Christmas Amazon purchase. I ordered a game for our family, and it was due to arrive the day before Christmas Eve. It’s tradition for our boys to open a present on Christmas Eve and it’s typically a game and/or puzzle. So, you can imagine how I felt when I discovered on Christmas Eve morning that the shipment had not only not arrived yet, but was now delayed by a week. And there was no capacity to go shopping for a game at that point. I had a moment of pause. Was this game really that important? Are there other ways our family could spend time together? Would my 19- and 15-year-old children truly be upset if they did not have that gift to open? However, what was I trying to satisfy with this one more gift? I realized I was trying to satisfy an ideal of the perfectly planned Christmas. The problem was that ‘perfect’ was in my eyes and not His. When I shifted my eyes off a missing Amazon package and onto the real gifts we had on Christmas Eve – countless gifts such as a beautiful Church service to worship Jesus, enjoying family and friends gathering in our home, food, laughter, a tree already filled with other gifts – fretting over that missing package suddenly seemed so small and insignificant.

The long department store line that reminded me of the importance of patience.

From Thanksgiving through Christmas, it seems that no errand outside of the home can be done efficiently. If it’s not long lines at the store holding us up, it’s the traffic getting to the store. It was one day when I was at a department store waiting in a very long line when my muscle memory had me digging in my bag for my phone. I would use this time efficiently. After all, I am the queen of multitasking. How many emails and text messages can I respond to while waiting? What can I buy online while standing in line? However, what was I trying to satisfy with my head in this device in my hand while waiting? I paused, and decided to keep my phone in my bag and patiently wait without trying to do a million other things. I found myself making eye contact with people and smiling. There was a physical shift in how I felt. I felt less hurried and more patient. I noticed something about the sales associate and complimented her. Slowing down and being patient yielded the fruit of letting people know they were seen.

The neighborhood Christmas lights that reminded me of the importance of being light to others.

In the week following Thanksgiving, houses donning Christmas lights multiplied each day. Many more homes were hiring services to put up lights. Those who weren’t seemed to be upping their game this year. By the first week of December, I began to take notice of how our street greeted me as I drove down to our house at the end of the cul-de-sac each night. Each house seemed to have double the lights they had last year. I suddenly felt this urgency to get our lights up and instead of the usual two trees, we would light all of the trees and the bushes. Of course, this would require another visit to Lowes. And I bet I could make it look just as good as the neighbors who hired someone. However, what was I trying to satisfy by adding more and more lights to our landscaping? As I drove down our street at dusk, I was reminded that we are to be light to each other ALL year. Not just at Christmastime. And Christmas lights are temporary. They’re beautiful, but as they are coming down soon, I need to look for ways to continue to regularly shine light on my neighbors and loved ones. 

The social media scrolling that reminded me of the importance of limiting time on social media so my peace and joy could be found in real presence.

So, I’ll be the first to admit that Instagram taught me how to tie the perfect Christmas bow and make a fabulous and festive Christmas mocktail… However, what was I trying to satisfy by regularly scrolling through social media feeds? It did not take long to realize that my life did not change for the better because of these newfound talents. Time and time again this past month, I have been reminded that limiting social media reduces stress. While I love seeing pictures of family and friends over the holidays, (especially since not everyone sends cards these days), spending any significant amount of time on social media over spending time with the ones I love or other priorities is not time well spent for me. As a matter of fact, the more time I spent on social media, the more I felt I should be doing or making. And friends that just leads to stress. Hands down the best place for me to find that Christmas peace, joy, and comfort is in the Bible and with my loved ones. 

The biggest takeaway from the holidays that I had as I ruminated on the word “Gluttony” was asking myself the question, “What am I trying to satisfy?” It served as a much-needed reminder that the world begs and pleads for every bit of our attention and resources. It tees up comparisons and lies about how to fulfill our need for contentment, often right from the device in the palm of our hand. However, the more and more we chase after that which is of the world, the less and less content we become. We’ve heard it over Christmas and need to lean into it throughout the entire year. Jesus truly is the answer. Our Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father. The more we chase after Him, the more contentment we have. He is the only One meant to satisfy and fill our emptiness.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10: 10-11

Lord, I praise You that You are the only One who can truly satisfy. Thank You that You love us so much that You gave Your One and only Son to live among us and die for us. I am sorry when I seek things of this world instead of seeking You. Please help me to keep my eyes fixed on You as things of this world try to pull me away. It is You I want to worship and give all my praise to. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.