Wrong Choice

 

God said, “Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat” (Genesis 2:17). Adam and Eve chose poorly. How can we avoid making the wrong choice?

In this series on “Deadly Sins” we have covered “Temptation” and “Desire.” Now let’s consider the next step to avoid in the path of sin: wrong choice.

Adam and Eve were faced with a classic choice during their earliest days in the Garden of Eden. The tree of life and all the other trees in the garden were there for their health and happiness, but God told them eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would lead to death.

The wrong choice made by Adam and Eve is well documented in the Bible. Whether we think about it or not, we also make daily choices. When faced with making a good choice or a wrong choice, we are usually tempted to make the bad choice. What determines the choice we will make?

The framework for choosing

The choices we make and the actions we take in life are the result of the thoughts that feed our minds daily. Notice Luke 6:45: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

The “heart” (mind) stores the thoughts and feelings that produce the actions and choices in our lives.

The book of Romans amplifies this thought process and ties it into the two outcomes described in the account of Adam and Eve. “For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).

There are many scriptures advising us about the importance of what we feed our minds. This principle is discussed in the book of Psalms: “Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way” (Psalm 119:36-37).

The apostle Paul also emphasized the importance of building up a healthy mind with positive thoughts: “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8).

So we can prepare for these choices and equip ourselves to make the good choices by focusing our minds on the good and dwelling on the positive results of good choices. But is that all we need to do in order to choose rightly?

The struggle

Paul described an internal struggle that he dealt with personally. He also recognized that there were two choices involved in the situations he faced—the choice he knew he should make, and the choice that he was inclined to make, even though he knew better.

“I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law in my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:21-24).

The apostle Paul found himself in a struggle between these two choices! Furthermore, he often found that he was tempted to make the wrong choice: “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice” (Romans 7:18-19).

Where does that leave the rest of us if even the apostle Paul had this difficulty in avoiding the wrong choice and always choosing what was right?

And yet despite that internal struggle, we need to make the right choices, as poor choices result in death. Notice Deuteronomy 30:19: “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.”

Proverbs 14:12 expands on this thought: “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

Is it really this bad?

We have all made wrong choices, and (thankfully) have not yet been struck dead for making them. But we must realize that all sins (which are bad choices—the transgression of the law of God) have to be repented of; those sins must be covered and forgiven by Christ’s shed blood. The apostle Paul realized the seriousness of sin. So, even though he faced this struggle of avoiding the wrong choice, he no doubt practiced his own advice about dwelling on good and virtuous thoughts to help him choose the right.

It is true that all people eventually die, regardless of the choices they make. But there is more to the picture than just the natural end of human life. Wrong choices always bring consequences. The history of mankind (beginning with Adam and Eve) reflects a long series of wrong choices and the resulting wars, poverty, disease and destruction. And sins not repented of will bring eternal death.

Look at the big picture

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ made possible a future for mankind beyond the limitations of our mortal flesh. Humanity is not doomed to an inevitable cycle of sin and death! Here are Jesus’ own words: “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:9-10).

Jesus Christ wants us to have life, and He does not want to see us make wrong choices. For further explanation of the results of wrong choices and the alternative to those wrong choices, read the final article in this series, “Effects of Sin.”

Desire

 

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable … she took of its fruit and ate” (Genesis 3:6).

The account in Genesis of mankind’s first recorded sin is a familiar one. After Eve saw that the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was pleasant to the eyes and desirable to make one wise, she ate. Verse 6 goes on to tell us that Adam followed in Eve’s footsteps: “She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.”

While the story of that original sin is familiar to many, the consequences of giving in to wrong desire are perhaps not so familiar. Adam and Eve were driven from their garden paradise and subsequently found it much more difficult to grow and harvest food.

Eve was also told there would be pain and sorrow in having children. Their firstborn son (Cain) grew up to become the world’s first murderer, taking the life of his brother. Who would have believed that so much pain and sorrow could result from giving in to one simple desire?

Cycle of sin

The Bible tells us of a series of steps and decisions that can result in death. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

There exists, though, the opportunity to turn away from wrong desire before it leads us down the path followed by Adam and Eve.

First, how can we tell the difference between wrong desires and right desires? We must compare our desires with the law of God. If our desires promote love for God and our fellow man and obedience to God’s commandments, they are okay. But if they are contrary to God’s commandments and do not show love for God and are not in the best interests of others, they are wrong desires.

Wrong desire is clearly a crucial step in the chain reaction of events that can lead to death. It bears a closer inspection into what the Bible has to say about the nature of those wrong desires we can encounter.

“For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:16). Three types of wrong desire are enumerated here: desire (lust) of the flesh, desire of the eyes and the pride of life.

Desire of the flesh

Desire of the flesh—the wrong desire for the wealth, comforts or pleasures this world can offer—is the first of the wrong desires listed in 1 John. This can include sexual lusts, gluttony, drunkenness, drugs and other physical addictions.

There is an account in the Bible of a man who gave in to such wrong desires, with disastrous results.

This account concerns a man named Gehazi, who had been a faithful servant to the prophet Elisha for several years. As the story develops in 2 Kings 5, a commander in the Syrian army named Naaman offered a great deal of money and other gifts to the king of Israel in hopes of being cured of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-5).

The king was unable to help, but Elisha heard of the situation and sent instructions to Naaman about how to be healed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:6-10). When Naaman finally followed the instructions, he was healed! Naaman then offered his gifts to Elisha, but Elisha refused them (verses 15-19).

At this point, Gehazi’s “desire of the flesh” took over, and he decided to profit from the generosity offered by Naaman. “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, ‘Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him’” (2 Kings 5:20).

Gehazi did as he said, running after Naaman with a fabricated story about a request from Elisha for money and clothing. These were needed, according to Gehazi, for two new students. Naaman then gave Gehazi silver and changes of clothing, which Gehazi kept for himself (2 Kings 5:21-24).

What was the result for Gehazi of giving in to wrong desires by lying and stealing? Elisha told him, ‘“Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.’ And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow” (verse 27). Leprosy was an especially dreaded disease, causing disfigurement and social isolation.

Ironically, Gehazi suffered a type of destruction to his own flesh when he gave in to the “desire of the flesh.” Gehazi couldn’t have known what the outcome of his desires would be, or he surely would not have taken the silver and the clothing. Then again, we often do not know what the consequences will be for us (until it is too late) when we give in to wrong desires.

Desire of the eyes

The second desire listed in 1 John concerns visual temptation leading to wrong desire, or “lust of the eyes.” This can include coveting cars, houses and other physical things, as well as sexual lust.

In another famous biblical example, King David of Israel gave in to desire of the eyes in the incident with Bathsheba.

“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold” (2 Samuel 11:2).

As the story continues in 2 Samuel 11, David sent for Bathsheba, committed adultery with her and fathered a child. In order to cover his sins, he sent Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, into battle with instructions for the other troops to withdraw when the battle reached its zenith. David’s orders were essentially a death sentence for Uriah. David then took Bathsheba as his wife.

What was God’s reaction to what David had done? “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will raise up adversity against you from your own house; and I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun’” (2 Samuel 12:11). God then also caused the first child conceived by Bathsheba with David to die.

David went on to repent, and he was a man after God’s own heart who ruled Israel well for many years. However, his sin—giving in to the desire of the eyes—caused much needless pain for David and his family before his life was finished.

The pride of life

The “pride of life” phrase mentioned in 1 John 2:16 is defined by the Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary as “vainglorious display.” It could include pride, arrogance, vanity, self-importance, self-promotion and self-righteousness. A simpler definition might be the desire to elevate oneself in the eyes of others.

In the early days of the Christian Church, there were many who sold their possessions and brought them to the apostles for the use of the Church. The account in Acts 4:32-37 describes how several people sold land, houses and other possessions and brought the money to the apostles.

Acts 5:1-2 goes on to describe a couple named Ananias and Sapphira, who sold a possession and brought a part of the proceeds to the apostles but claimed they were giving it all. In verse 3, Peter asked why they had lied about the sale. The problem wasn’t that Ananias and Sapphira donated only a part of the proceeds, but that they lied to try to make themselves look good.

Notice Acts 5:4: ‘While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Ananias and Sapphira desired to impress others with their generosity—they wanted the apostles and others to believe that they had donated all of the proceeds to the Church, when in fact they had donated only part. This desire to impress had fatal results. In verses 5-10, Peter separately asked each about the price of the sale. Each died immediately after lying to Peter about the price.

Few experience such an immediate, disastrous result from the desire to impress others, but the story of Ananias and Sapphira underscores the warning in 1 John 2:16 about the “pride of life.”

What can we do about desire?

We all encounter temptations in life that can easily result in the wrong desires just described. It is easy to give in to temptation and desire things that can harm us. How can we avoid these pitfalls?

Galatians 5:16-17 gives us the antidote: “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

The verses that follow talk about the need to walk in the Spirit, rather than walking in the flesh (Galatians 5:18-26). They illustrate the infinitely more desirable results of walking in the Spirit, as opposed to giving in to the desires of the flesh.

Walking in the Spirit begins with repentance, turning from our sins and being baptized to receive God’s Holy Spirit. This leads to conversion and faithfully responding to what God teaches us and enduring to the end. It’s vitally important to understand and act on these steps, and the articles on this website about repentance and baptism can help you start. The differences in the outcomes are dramatic. The choices are ours to make.

Next in this series, see the article on “Wrong Choice.”

Temptation

 

“Temptations, unlike opportunities, will always give you many second chances” (Canadian author Orlando A. Battista). How can we overcome temptation?

Some temptations catch us by surprise. Others are avoidable. How much effort should we be making to avoid temptation? How do we counteract the temptations we face as we go through life?

Consider the case of Joseph

Joseph was 17 years old when he was sold into slavery by his own brothers! However, by God’s mercy, he ended up in a very favorable position and was blessed. In Genesis 39:5 we see that God even blessed Potiphar because of Joseph.

But then Potiphar’s wife confronted him with temptation (verse 7). Giving in to her would have put him in opposition to God. Joseph knew that acquiescing to her sexual advances would be a sin against God (verse 9). So Joseph chose resistance even as the temptations went on for days (verse 10).

Then “it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, that she caught him by his garment, saying, ‘Lie with me.’ But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside” (verses 11-12).

Potiphar’s wife lied (verse 14); and as a result, Joseph was sent to prison, where he remained for several years. But God was pleased with him and had not forgotten him (verses 21-23). Eventually, Joseph rose to a position of power in Egypt second only to Pharaoh, and he was able to rescue his family many years later when famine struck the land.

Joseph’s example is particularly instructive, because he was caught in a situation beyond his control. As a slave, he couldn’t leave Potiphar’s house or make changes in what he was required to do. However, he resisted temptation on several occasions; and when he couldn’t otherwise avoid it, he fled from the house.

What about our own lives? Are there things we can do to avoid temptation and help prevent such a situation as the one Joseph was in?

Avoid it where you can

Each of us has the ability to think about our actions and avoid situations that will lead us into trouble. For instance, someone with an alcohol problem will always need to avoid bars and liquor stores. Where temptation is concerned, as the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in many cases. (For more on this, read our series on “Freedom From Addiction.”)

King David was very aware of the need to chart a careful course. Yet even he famously gave in to temptation during the incident with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11). However, he showed himself to be a man after God’s own heart by having a repentant spirit and by showing his awareness of the need to stay away from temptation.

Notice Psalm 17:4-5: “Concerning the works of men, by the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. Uphold my steps in Your paths, that my footsteps may not slip.”

All actions have consequences, whether good or bad. Considering our path could save us all a great deal of pain and regret. But what about those unforeseen circumstances, such as the one Joseph encountered, when temptation comes our way despite our efforts to avoid it?

Help is available!

We have an example from Jesus Christ as He prepared to face His final trial and crucifixion. He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane, then returned to His disciples to find them sleeping. He told them: “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38). Christ wasn’t telling them they could “pray away” temptation, but He told them they needed to be better prepared to deal with it through prayer.

Christ’s model prayer in Matthew 6 contains the same instructions: “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (verse 13). This verse isn’t telling us that God will tempt us, but rather that we can ask for His help in delivering us from the temptations of a powerful enemy. Notice James 1:13: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.”

The temptation comes from Satan, as shown in 1 Peter 5:8: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Verse 9 goes on to tell us we need to resist Satan and his temptations.

Verse 10 contains the same message as Matthew 6:13, letting us know that we can call on God for His help in these situations: “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

No one needs to face trials and temptations alone!

No temptation or trial is unique to us

We can find further encouragement and strengthening words in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

These are words of great comfort! Whatever temptation we may be struggling with, others have encountered it also. We are not alone! Furthermore, God’s assurance to us is that if we seek His help, as shown in Christ’s prayer in Matthew 6, He will give us a way to escape the temptation.

James 1:15 describes a life cycle of sin, leading to death. The steps of that cycle are:

1. Temptation.
2. Desire.
3. Wrong choice.
4. Effects of sin.

It is vital to break that cycle before it gets a foothold! To do that, we can stop it at the beginning—when temptation first presents itself.

We encourage you to keep reading the additional articles about breaking the cycle of deadly sin by going next to the article on “Desire.”

What Are the Deadly Sins?

 

The list of the “seven deadly sins” is fairly familiar: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy and gluttony. Are these or other sins truly deadly? What does the Bible say about deadly sins?

The list of seven deadly sins is believed to have originated with a fourth-century monk, who composed a list of eight evil thoughts. A few changes were made to the list over time, until Pope Gregory I issued the list of seven deadly sins as we know them today. These sins were believed to cause other sins and were thus considered to be “deadly.”

The list of seven deadly sins then became popularized by the Italian poet Dante in The Divine Comedy.

What does the Bible say about deadly sins?

The specific listing of the “seven deadly sins” shown above cannot be found in any scriptural text. The Bible does show that those activities are sinful, but also reveals that other sins should be avoided as well.

For instance, in Proverbs 6:16-19, there is a list of seven things God hates. These are:

1. A proud look.
2. A lying tongue.
3. Hands that shed innocent blood.
4. A heart that devises wicked plans.
5. Feet that are swift in running to evil.
6. A false witness.
7. One who sows discord among brethren.

Although these things are specifically called out as things that God hates, only pride matches up as one of the “seven deadly sins.”

Galatians 5:19-21 lists many “works of the flesh” and says that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. These works include things such as adultery, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, heresies and murder; but only one of the items listed (envy) is included in the “seven deadly sins.”

God provides a definition of sin: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). The King James Version renders this as “transgression of the law.” Actions contrary to God’s law are sin. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).

Sin has a certain “life cycle” that results in death. “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:14-15).

The list of sins resulting in death is not limited to seven! All sin leads to death, and that death would be permanent for each of us if it were not for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who atoned for our sins.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). How did Christ’s sacrifice make forgiveness of our sins possible? And can we simply continue to sin because Jesus Christ paid the price?

Because of deadly sins, we need Christ’s sacrifice

The “wages of sin”—what sin earns for us—is death. This generally does not come in the form of God instantly striking people dead for sinning; but without Christ’s sacrifice, “eternal life in Christ Jesus” would not be possible.

The apostle Peter explains more about the sacrifice of Christ: “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Peter 2:23-24).

The penalty of permanent death (the wages of sin) was paid by Christ Himself at His death. The book of Hebrews illuminates further:

“For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself” (Hebrews 7:26-27).

Under the sacrificial system of ancient Israel, the priest, as described in Hebrews, offered up sacrifices for himself, then offered daily sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. Christ offered up Himself once, for all mankind, to atone for our sins.

What does God want us to do about deadly sins?

Sins are deadly—all of them. There is no scriptural indication to support the idea that there are only seven deadly sins, with the rest being of lesser severity. Sins are the transgression of God’s law and would inevitably result in permanent death if not for the sacrifice of Christ.

So where does that leave us now? Do we simply acknowledge Christ as our Savior and go on with life as before, feeling secure in the knowledge that what we do doesn’t matter from now on? The apostle Paul answers that question very directly:

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). Paul continues in verse 4: “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Repentance and baptism are required. (For further information, please see the “Repentance” and “Baptism” sections of this website.)

After baptism, we are expected to walk in “newness of life.” We are expected to turn from sin and go in the other direction. That can be a difficult thing. Sin has a certain repetitive pattern, or cycle, as described earlier in James 1:14-15.

Breaking the cycle of deadly sins

How can we break the cycle of sin and choose a different path? Once again, our primary help is from Jesus Christ. He is our High Priest, as shown in Hebrews 7. He is also our spiritual forerunner—the One who went before us and showed us the path to follow.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

It will also help to look at the individual steps involved in the process that leads to sin. If we are more aware and informed on how we are led into sin, step by step, then we will be better prepared to break the deadly cycle and choose a different path. Those steps are:

• Temptation.
• Desire.
• Wrong Choice.
• Effects of Sin.

We are commanded by God to put sin away from our lives; and with God’s help, we can overcome sin. It is important to know how to avoid sin in the first place, so we encourage you to read these four articles for further information about each of these four steps in how to avoid sin.

Freedom From Addiction

 

God has given us certain instructions and guidelines that lead to health, peace of mind and happiness. Addictions war against these guidelines.

In the following series of articles, learn in detail about four of the most prevalent addictions, as well as several strategies for gaining independence from any addiction through the power of God.

Whether secular or religious, nearly all parties asked will confidently classify addictions as harmful. Those who want to obediently serve God and follow His instructions will acknowledge addictions to be insidious sins that must be overcome. Yet in circumstances where brain chemistry is actively working against common sense and slowing progress, is there any hope to break free? It takes pain, sacrifice, time and effort—but the answer is yes.

The sticky stuff

Addictions are sticky. It all starts with that first venture into something we know we should not do, but then do anyway. There it is; this sticky stuff is now attached to us. The more we take part in the action, the stickier it gets on our skin.

Some can immediately wash that sticky stuff off and be rid of it, hating the feeling of it from the moment it was on their skin. Unfortunately, many experience quite a different effect. Only when the action is very thick and sticky, do they realize they want it off immediately.

They try to get this horrible, sticky substance off, but they realize it IS NOT coming off! They try chipping away at it, washing it constantly, sometimes even feeling that they are making progress. But then they remember how good it felt to have the stickiness and they lose more ground than was gained. Emotions come along with this: shame, regret, embarrassment, depression, anger, frustration, loss of self-worth, self-deprecation—and the sticky stuff just holds on for dear life.

Looking for help

This series of articles is intended to provide some motivation and reality checks about addiction. Once we come to the decision that this horrible addiction has ruined enough days, weeks, months and even years of our life and that we desperately want freedom from it, then we can start to look for help.

The first One we must go to is the only provider of true comfort and assistance in the entire universe, God. Prayer may have been difficult during those times when we were getting stickier and stickier, but now it must be a priority. God truly knows exactly how sticky and destructive addictions are, so He no doubt is eager for us to turn to Him for guidance and freedom from sin: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, emphasis added throughout).

In addition to going to God, we can also take advantage of an enormous help that God provides for us: other people, often called accountability partners or “sponsors.” Addictions love to hide in the shadows where they can secretly torment us for years, possibly without anyone ever knowing that we are fighting a large-scale war in our minds.

Letting a select few people—or just one person—into the struggle does wonders to destroy the loneliness and overwhelming nature of addictions. This person, or these people, must be a compassionate and loving help to the situation instead of a condemning and self-righteous hindrance. God does not throw us away and “give up on us” if we relapse or make mistakes, so neither should the people to whom we have opened ourselves up.

Needless to say, we must choose this person wisely and realistically. One who hates what the addiction is doing to us but firmly believes Romans 3:23 (“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”) would be a good choice.

In order to make lasting progress, we need to also identify the causes of our addictions. What is it that triggers a yielding to the addiction? One needs to become aware of this and deal with the causes as well as changing the behavior. This will help in battling the tendency to constantly relapse into the problem again.

This will be covered in more depth for each specific addiction, but we must take advantage of programs, associations and counselors who specialize in treating and helping those with addictions. Options include local ministers with experience in counseling, as well as specialists with Christian backgrounds. Remember, there are people there to help if we decide to use them.

The series

This introduction begins a series in which specific addictions will be addressed: alcoholism, pornography, smoking and gambling. Other addictions, such as drug addiction, will not be directly addressed; but the strategies and overall realities about addiction in these articles are meant to cover more than just the specific topics. A concluding article offers a comprehensive look at the first month in overcoming an addiction.

So, let’s take the first steps toward freedom from addiction—steps that start on our knees in prayer to God and end with a smile, instead of a shudder, when we see ourselves in the mirror.