Bad Habits (Part 3)

Bad Habits (Part 3)

From time to time, everyone struggles to overcome bad habits and addictions. It's your choice because God has given us a free will. We choose whether to subject ourselves to bad habits and addictions according to Romans 6:16-18. Therefore, we have the power to control ourselves and avoid sinful behaviors, and thus break bad habits and addictions.

Simply stated, an “addiction is a loss of control and freedom”, while a habit is “something that is donned or assumed, perhaps often, but that can nevertheless be removed if desired.” Anything that has control over us is an addiction. For example: If you must have coffee to function, it is an addiction; but if you freely choose to drink coffee every day, it is a habit.

Sinful behaviors are sinful, whether or not they're an addiction. For example: Illegal drug use and pornography are sinful, whether they're addictions or not. Lawful behaviors, on the other hand, can become sinful in certain circumstances. One of those circumstances is addiction. If a lawful behavior becomes an addiction, then it is a sin.

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

So, if we have a godly attitude, we will stay away from sin. Thus, we'll never involve ourselves in sinful behaviors that are highly addictive.

Paul sets forth this idea in these Scriptures:

-1 Thessalonians 5:21,22 "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil."

-Romans 12:9 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."

-1 Corinthians 15:33 "Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals."

If we abstain from everything remotely connected with sin, abhorring even the thought of it, we'll never become addicted to sinful behaviors. If you never take a drink of alcohol, you'll never become an alcoholic. If you never look at pornography, you'll never become addicted to pornography.

Ask God to help you keep yourself unspotted from the world.