Unhealthy Appetite

Unhealthy Appetite Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Covetousness; Greed; Love of Money; Money; Repentance; Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus; Authority of the Bible; Scripture / Luke 16:14-31 Introduction - Diet and Appetite Control The body needs food to have energy to fuel all the needs for work and also to ensure functions and continued survival. The base metabolic rate for the body is the energy consumption necessary to maintain current energy needs. Adult females need typically (there are exceptions and differences) 1600 - 2400 calories and adult males need 2000 - 3000 calories (adjustments for age and other factors) The low end is for those more sedentary and the higher end for the more active. The body craves energy and we have an appetite - desire for food which will provide the required calories for our energy needs. A healthy appetite desires food when the body is hungry. It desires foods in a timing which best help it accomplish and achieve the workload put on the body. We are all born with a healthy appetite - in fact after seeing all three of my kids born I know babies are generally born hungry. So we know at birth there is a healthy appetite when the body is hungry. There is another sense in which we must consider a healthy appetite - that is in the sense of fullness. A healthy appetite is there when the body needs fuel and is shut off when the body's caloric needs have been met. Yet one final type of healthy appetite we must consider - this is what is consumed - or the type of food consumed. A healthy appetite craves and desires that which is good and wholesome food for the body and the needs of the body in terms of workload and energy - especially for those who seek to be fit and work towards that goal. Some foods help you achieve that goal of fitness and other foods will sabotage the goal. In seeking crossfitness one must seek a healthy appetite - which means diet and control - ensuring the right foods eaten at the right time and in the right amount. To break this is to sabotage crossfitness goals - for the truth and we have heard this truth before but you cannot out work an unhealthy diet. Luke continues with chapter 16 with Jesus continuing in teaching about money. We see here attention turn from disciples to the Pharisees, and Jesus is going to call them out for their unhealthy appetites. Spiritual CrossFitness requires healthy spiritual appetites and in order for us to desire to maintain a healthy appetite we must understand Jesus' teaching on an unhealthy appetite and the results that come from allowing our appetite to be and remain unhealthy. Luke 16:14-16 CSB 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. 15 And he told them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight. 16 "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently invited to enter it. Luke 16:17-18 CSB 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out. 18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. Luke 16:19-22 CSB 19 "There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. Luke 16:23-25 CSB 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!' 25 " 'Son,' Abraham said, 'remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Luke 16:26-28 CSB 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.' 27 " 'Father,' he said, 'then I beg you to send him to my father's house-28 because I have five brothers-to warn them, so that they won't also come to this place of torment.' Luke 16:29-31 CSB 29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' 30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.' " Unhealthy Appetite Requires Self-Justification Luke 16:14-16 CSB 14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and scoffing at him. 15 And he told them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly admired by people is revolting in God's sight. 16 "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently invited to enter it. Luke 16:17-18 CSB 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to drop out. 18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and everyone who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery. An unhealthy appetite is that which craves and desires way more than necessary, that which is no good - or both. In our text this morning Luke records the example of the Pharisees and we get to see what their appetite was. We read the Pharisees - who were lovers of money - KJV says covetousness. Covetousness greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious meaning having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions. Covetousness is the insatiable desire for material possessions or wealth . Covetousness is having a spiritually unhealthy appetite for money and worldly wealth. The Pharisees had a very unhealthy appetite - they were lovers of money wealth and riches. So while listening to these things Jesus was speaking to His disciples they were scoffing at Him. Its not recorded what they said but we know the attitude presented here, one that says of course the poor beggar homeless rabbi isnt fond of wealth he doesnt have any. Jesus responds to their scoffing by pointing out that they justify themselves in the sight of others. When we have unhealthy appetites and we dont want to change them and we wont let anyone challenge them we seek to justify ourselves by all the wrong authority too. I have a friend who is a Radiology Tech and she says that after taking so many x-rays one thing becomes true - there isnt as many big-boned people as we are led to believe. Why because that is an excuse some use to justify poor and unhealthy appetites that crave more than necessary or that which is no good or both those things. Then Jesus delivers the bombshell to them - the truth - God knows their hearts - Notice what He says - God knows YOUR hearts. Understand that God knows your heart. No matter how you justify yourself and your unhealthy appetite God knows your heart. You can fool everyone else around you but you will not fool God, you may even fool yourself into thinking you are ok - you cannot fool God. You cannot justify yourself outside God's word and standards because God is the one who declares one righteous or unrighteous. We are sorely mistaken when we go outside God's word and God's standard because what people admire, God finds revolting. What God admires - people rebel against - look outside the world today. You cannot justify yourself outside of God you must justify yourself in alignment with God and unhealthy appetites and covetousness wont get you there. Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Law and the Prophets were until John. The Law and the Prophets refers to the old testament or old covenant. Since John - Jesus says the good news (The Gospel) of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed - inviting everyone - urgently to enter into it. The kingdom is open to all who will enter - but they must enter the way proclaimed - the Law and the Prophets pointed to the coming time that they now found themselves in and the way of righteous proclaimed by John and Jesus - but the Pharisees would rather keep their unhealthy appetites and seek to justify themselves. The Pharisees had such an appetite for wealth and power and their position that they would hold it rather than come into the kingdom. They would also justify themselves according to their tradition apart from scripture. They taught and the rabbi's taught that money riches and wealth were a sign of righteousness before God but Jesus is showing them that righteousness is not determined by wealth or money. Jesus says a peculiar thing here and it seems out of place but I dont believe it is. He says that it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter (a t or an i) in the letter of the law to drop out. Jesus says heaven and earth shall pass away before one word of God changes or is made void. Matthew 24:35 CSB 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Isaiah 40:8 CSB 8 The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever." The Pharisees want to change the word and twist the word in order to justify themselves and others - in order to keep their cushy lives. They justify that which God has declared profane and profane that which is just. God's word is forever and it is not open to interpretation. The example Jesus gives on marriage and divorce seems confusing but the main point is this - adultery remains adultery - divorce or no divorce - remarriage or no marriage. Most Jewish debate on divorce centered on what the expression "something indecent" in scripture meant. Deuteronomy 24:1 CSB 1 "If a man marries a woman, but she becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, he may write her a divorce certificate, hand it to her, and send her away from his house. Hillel interpreted this broadly and permitted divorce in such cases as a wife burning supper or a husband finding another woman more attractive. Shammi interpreted this narrowly and permitted divorce only in the case of sexual unfaithfulness on the wife's part. The Pharisees took a loose view and condoned divorcing for no good reason and allowed the marrying of the desired woman and in this way they declared there is no adultery - but justified in the eyes of men is not justified in the eyes of God. Unhealthy appetite will force you to justify yourself though God's word does not. Unhealthy Appetite Filling But Not Satiating Luke 16:19-21 CSB 19 "There was a rich man who would dress in purple and fine linen, feasting lavishly every day. 20 But a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, was lying at his gate. 21 He longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table, but instead the dogs would come and lick his sores. Luke 16:22-23 CSB 22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. An unhealthy appetite will cause you to feel full but you will not be satisfied and fulfilled. This is because an unhealthy appetite causes you to crave the wrong things and feel full though you will have no lasting energy. Jesus begins with another parable this time pointed at the Pharisees for them to see the peril of unhealthy appetites. This parable is unique and unusual - it has no introduction, no explicit application and a person in it has a specific name. The context demands it to be seen in light of the previous verses 8-13 A rich man dressed in purple and fine linen and feasting lavishly every day, while a poor man Lazarus covered with sores was lying at his gate. Lazarus longed to be filled with what fell from the rich man's table. Instead the dogs would come and lick his sores Here is a rich man - well dressed and well fed - lacking for nothing - who has a poor man - Lazarus who is at his gate covered in sores. Lazarus is hungry and desires to be filled - even if it is the rich man's scraps. Those days to clean the hands while eating you would use the bread like a napkin and the crumbs would fall. Lazarus wanted only those - his appetite wanted what didnt really belong to anyone else - he didnt crave the rich man's meals but what the rich man wouldnt eat anyway - but he couldnt even have that - the dogs would get it first and the only comfort Lazarus had was the dogs licking his sores. Two men from very opposite ends of the spectrum - one rich one poor - soon we will see one righteous and one unrighteous As it happens they both end up dying. Lazarus died and was escorted by the angels to Abraham's side (Bosom). The rich man died and was buried. He ended up in Hades experiencing torment - looking up a long way off seeing Abraham and Lazarus at his side (Bosom). Two men opposite places after death - the great equalizer. Lazarus carried by angels to Abraham's bosom - Paradise and the rich man in Hades in torment. Lazarus is not righteous because he was poor and the rich man is not unrighteous because he was rich and had money. The difference was in their appetites. The rich man didnt do anything - that was the problem. The rich man didnt do anything to Lazarus, but he didnt do anything for him either. He neglected and ignored this man in need - while he was filled and full. 1 John 3:17 CSB 17 If anyone has this world's goods and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him-how does God's love reside in him? James 2:15-16 CSB 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed," but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? The Old Testament - scripture - had much to say about the care of the poor Proverbs 14:21 CSB 21 The one who despises his neighbor sins, but whoever shows kindness to the poor will be happy. Proverbs 19:17 CSB 17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and he will give a reward to the lender. Proverbs 21:13 CSB 13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will himself also call out and not be answered. Proverbs 28:27 CSB 27 The one who gives to the poor will not be in need, but one who turns his eyes away will receive many curses. It must have come as a shock for the Jews to hear that the rich man ended up in Hades. The rich man who was filled and satisfied in life found out that he was left in need and want when it mattered. He was tormented Money and wealth are not proof of righteousness they are but a test of the heart for faithful stewardship. Unhealthy appetite leaves you thinking you are filled but its empty calories Unhealthy Appetite Unmerciful With Permanent Consequences Luke 16:24-25 CSB 24 'Father Abraham!' he called out, 'Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!' 25 " 'Son,' Abraham said, 'remember that during your life you received your good things, just as Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here, while you are in agony. Luke 16:26 CSB 26 Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that those who want to pass over from here to you cannot; neither can those from there cross over to us.' Unhealthy appetites come with consequences that can be unmerciful and permanent. In life with the wrong appetite we can have much discomfort. With the wrong things consumed it can be dangerous to us. Poisons and toxins are things we are cautious of consuming in order to prevent terrible consequences. When we have unhealthy appetites spiritually we desire crave and consume things which are no good for us. We think we are good but soon we find out how detrimental our appetites have been. Like physically one day we may get the call from the doctor - and the news isnt good and sometimes we learn its a permanent consequence. The rich man discovered just this - he thought it was all good. He had the best of everything and the comfort and all of it. This Lazarus guy was here but that was the most of his problems, He continued to seek his own interest and belly and appetites and ignored Lazarus growing appetite. Now here he was in torment and look Lazarus is over there enjoying himself. He couldnt plead ignorance because he recognized Lazarus. We cannot plead ignorance of our unhealthy appetite causing us to ignore the needs of others even after our own are met. The choices made by our appetites of this life determine our eternal destiny, and once death comes the destiny is permanently fixed. This is the truth highlighted in one of my favorite Christmas stories - A Christmas Carol. Be careful you appetite doesnt bring you to a place you dont want to be, because once there you cannot cross the chasm - you are either saved in paradise or tormented with the damned. The rich man is a contrast to the parable last week - the rich man did not prepare for eternity Then we read the most unsettling part - there is no mercy to be found. the rich man found no relief from his agony in the flame. Even as he called out for mercy. Now is the time to have an appetite for mercy - both to find for ourselves and to have for others. Abraham says remember you received your good things and Lazarus received his bad things and now finds comfort while you are in agony. This life can be the best it will be for us or this life can be the worst it will be for us. It depends on our appetites Notice that Jesus in speaking this parable gives evidence that there is definitely an after-life with both a paradise and a Hell. The experience in Hell is real and is everlasting. There is no annihilation or soul sleep - one will be aware. It is also permanent there is no second chance, there is no purgatory or remedial cleansing. One cannot cross from Paradise to Hell and from Hell to Paradise - the great chasm is fixed and there is no crossing. Unhealthy appetites bring consequences without mercy and that may be permanent The rich man ignored Lazarus and now is realizing his place is permanent and merciless. Unhealthy Appetites Come From A Lack of Bread Luke 16:27-29 CSB 27 " 'Father,' he said, 'then I beg you to send him to my father's house-28 because I have five brothers-to warn them, so that they won't also come to this place of torment.' 29 "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' Luke 16:30-31 CSB 30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 "But he told him, 'If they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.' " Unhealthy appetites begin with a lack of proper food and nourishment. Soon any nourishment will do even if it is ultimately unhealthy. The solution is to keep healthy snacks to prevent hunger from getting out of control. The rich man begins to beg Abraham to help his brothers - he realizes his fate is sealed, but his brothers are still alive. They need to know that their appetites will bring them here. They need to be warned so they too will end up in torment. Abraham says that they have Moses and the Prophets and they should listen to them. What he is saying is they have the word of God - the scriptures - they have all the warning and explanation and direction and guidance that they need with that. They should listen or obey the scriptures. Matthew 4:3-4 CSB 3 Then the tempter approached him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 He answered, "It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God." Jesus knew the healthy appetite was one for scripture - for God's word is like bread and satisfies. The rich man says - no they ignore the scriptures - they need something like Lazarus going to visit them from beyond the grave. They need a reason to be persuaded. If this happens then they will repent. The rich man knew exactly what he was lacking - not wealth or poverty not even influence - he lacked repentance. Thinking repentance was for those who werent filled. Abraham responds if they dont listen to the word of God - Moses and the Prophets - scripture - neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead. Soon the Pharisees will try to put Lazarus to death and will explain away the resurrection of Jesus. Failure to listen to the word of God is final. If people do not heed the word of God they will not believe should one rise from the dead. This of course is proved by the resurrection of Jesus in which the Pharisees bribed those to lie about it and they persecuted the Christians. Those who ignore scripture will not believe the signs attested to in scripture. Without a steady diet of God's word you will develop an unhealthy appetite Conclusion The Bible teaches when a believer dies, his body goes to the grave, but his soul goes to be with Christ in heaven (2 Cor. 5:8; Phil. 1:23). When an unbeliever dies, his body likewise goes to the grave, but his soul goes to Hades. For him, Hades is a place of suffering and remorse. At the time of the Rapture, the bodies of believers will be raised from the grave and reunited with their spirits and souls (1 Thess. 4:13-18). They will then dwell with Christ eternally. At the Judgment of the Great White Throne, the bodies, spirits, and souls of unbelievers will be reunited (Rev. 20:12, 13). They will then be cast into the lake of fire, a place of eternal punishment. And so chapter 16 closes with a most solemn warning to the Pharisees, and to all who would live for unhealthy appetites. They do so at the peril of their souls. It is better to beg bread on earth than to beg water in Hades. The rich man interceded for his brothers - when he did it was for their souls to know to repent He did not say, "I'm glad my brothers will also come here. We'll have a wonderful time together!" Occasionally you hear a lost person say, "Well, I don't mind if I go to hell. I'll have a lot of company!" But there is no friendship or "company" in hell! Hell is a place of torment and loneliness The rich man did not go to Hades because of his riches but because of his appetite for riches. His appetite was unhealthy and he ignored God's word. He was so hungry for money he had no hunger for God or Jesus - His word and without God's word many will be lost to the same unhealthy appetite. You cannot circumvent God's law -- there is no arguing your case for righteous for God is a righteous judge - notice that the Pharisees can do all they want to dance around the law and justify themselves - but Jesus shows that Lazarus died and was judged righteous and the rich man died and was judged unrighteous. It was instaneous and there was no changing positions. Galatians 6:7-8 CSB 7 Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. A healthy appetite begins with repentance Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 8:53 PM December 19, 2020.