Addictions are powerful things that affect most, if not all of our lives. We think of addictions to thinks such as alcohol, cigarrettes, other drugs, sex/pornography, but we can be addicted to anything. From a christian perspective, anything that is more important to us than God and that we spend more time with than we do with God seems to qualify as an addiction. We are to "love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind." How can we do this if something else is occupying our thoughts and attention?
I tend to judge those who have nicotine addictions, because i think it is disgusting, unhealthy, weak, and a lack of self-control. Recently this addiction has hit close to home and it caused me to step back and look at my own addictions or my lack of addiction to God. I have never had a substance addiction, so it is impossible for me to know the strength and self-control it takes to quit. Instead of criticizing and judging however, i realized i need to build-up, encourage and support those close to me trying to quit. Love doesn't make people feel like failures, love doesn't make them feel an inch tall because they couldn't do something immediately, love (God) forgives for slips and regressions over and over again. I need to take a step back and look at myself, look at how i show love, and look at my own addictions and the things that distract me from God.
My house and all the projects become addictions at times, my husband becomes an addiction, laziness, work, tv, music (christian or not) are all things i find myself filling my time with instead of the one thing i should be doing.
Pray for those who are trying but haven't quit their addictions yet, support them unconditionally, forgive them when they mess up, when they hide it from you because they are ashamed. Pray for yourself that you would not put material things and distractions before worshipping God and spending time with Him. "How can you say to your brother: Let me take the speck out of your eye, when you fail to notice the plank in your own." Luke 6:42
Just something i've been thinking about lately and struggling with in my own life. Think i was displacing my own ashamedness on others with addictions. An addiction is an addiction- it keeps you from the one thing you should be addicted to: serving, pleasing, worshipping, and obeying God. I can't emphasize enough how everything else pales in comparison to Him. Let us fall on our faces because we are naked and ashamed at the feet of the One who forgives all; the One who desires to be our addiction.
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I heard it said one time "How many of us love God more than we love our T.V.? How many of us spend more time in with God than we do watching our favorite television program?" It really hit home.
ReplyDeleteI also like your comment about love not making people feel an inch tall. As Paul so aptly pointed out, we are only free from the bondage of sin thanks to Christ, not our own will power. Forgiveness, understanding, love, edification and encouragement always beat judgment, belittlement, and callus reprimand. Excellent post dear cousin.