That's another new thought that I came across yesterday in a book by Fenelon from 1687: "...Romans taught their children, not only to despise their body and make a generous and noble sacrifice of it, but also to indulge and gratify their soul with the delight that is found in virtue and honor." Intriguing isn't it? The thought of turning our efforts to indulge the soul rather than the body? How much of our time and energy is not spent in either indulging the body or conniving some way to rationalize doing so? I think of my issues with food: I want to indulge my taste buds and mind by eating something that I perceive to be tasty whether or not my body actually needs it for fuel. Aren't most of our sins actually some form of indulging the body and gratifying it's desires? "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your desires that rage within you?" (James something...) A lot of those "gray areas" like alcohol: something not bad in and of itself but it becomes sinful when we overindulge. The Bible has all sorts of verses about our flesh and how it's desires war against our spirit's desire to be Holy (when Christ is present). "Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality, so as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more." (Ephesians)
I think back over my "training" as a child and the first thing that comes to mind (concerning food again) was that when we wanted to celebrate, we ate lots and lots of food, therefore happy=overindulgence. I'm not trying to say that this is universal, just what was modeled for me. Was I taught anything about indulging and gratifying the soul? Certainly not in so many words. What is "indulging" for my soul? Time with God certainly leaves my soul feeling satisfied. Or a good conversation with a friend. Or maybe taking in some quality music. I think, for me at least, something in us sends us the message that the chance to overindulge is a reward. I search for ways to justify over indulging in everything from food to relaxing to (before I was married) physical affection. Is it sinful nature or culture? That would determine how to undermine it I would think. Perhaps it's both: a sin issue that I need to attack in myself so that I can better address it and train for it in my son. And how do I train myself to focus on indulging the soul instead? These are my deep thoughts for the day. I think I know the answers, but just haven't pondered it long enough. Anyone want to weigh in?
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