Grown Man in a Bib

Was listening last night to a pre-recorded sermon by one of the pastors at my church - the topic of the message was "WORK" - but one illustration reminded me of a conviction I'd had a while back on one particular verse in the Proverbs, so I thought I would share it, here. Especially with the accompanying word picture as described by my pastor in this sermon.

As you may know, the book of Proverbs in the Bible contains many words of wisdom, among which are many discussions about the characteristics of the UNwise, the sluggard, the lazy man. One such verse is Proverbs 19:24 which says:

"The sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again."

Perhaps the word picture here is obvious. Imagine a man slouched in his chair, lethargically plopping his hand to his dinner plate, and drooping over it with a slack expression. He looks up, but just can't quite bring himself to move his hand to bring the food to his mouth. In your mental picture, do you see a fat man?

In the above-referenced sermon, Pastor Raemisch likened this to a grown man in a high chair, wearing a bib and crying "Feed me!" The simple translation of this is, "He's too lazy even to feed himself," which immediately provoked in my mind a mental picture of FAST FOOD.

Ah, yes, now to the point. Because I am utterly dependent - as are most Americans! - on our FAST FOOD culture. Even though the food is usually awful - really awful! - I tell myself I value my time MORE and so I don't plan my meals ahead, I don't do much cooking (because what's the point when you're basically only cooking for yourself?) EVEN THOUGH I LOVE TO COOK!, and I like to do OTHER things with my time (like read, write, visit with friends, STUDY!, journal - "important" things!). I even adopt a disposition of INSISTING I remain free to do what I like with my own time. (hm. more heart idolatry?)

I have had imaginary conversations in my head to the effect of a financial counselor telling me I spend too much on eating out, and me listing off all the reasons why this is a legitimate and even necessary expenditure in my budget!

*****

The long and the short of the matter is this:

I know the good I ought to do, and I'm not doing it. (Scripturally, that makes this a matter of SIN!)

There is biblical evidence (sufficient just with the above-discussed verse) that *I* am a sluggard! I think a lot of my "eating out" could be resolved by simply "dying to self" on the matter of how I spend my TIME! which goes back to previous discussions re being much too busy, etc. (Counterintuitive to think that a sluggard might be otherwise "too busy," huh? But I must consider this!)

So, instead of making new "rules" for myself re eating out, or fast food, or the like - I am praying for a disposition that the Lord would enable me to see my TIME as HIS, and that I will continue to grow in my understanding of how to GUARD MY REST so that I will have the time I NEED for the responsibilities I have. And I am also praying that the Lord will give me the ability to see the PRIORITY of caring for my physical body - such that I will also GUARD MY HEALTH (nutrition, bulking up my immune system, etc.) with intentionality and diligence - instead of squandering it so I can "do what I want when I want!"

Any thoughts/suggestions/responses to these reflections? I'm all ears. ;)
~Leah