Materialism, pride, false humility, behaviour, chemicals, deception, self-loathing ...
What’s your hook?

Brace yourself; it’s time to come clean, fess-up and endure a reality check. The issues of addiction and dependency are not always the property of others. Inhale with some urgency - this ride may result in a change of perspective culminating in a distinct maturing in your journey with God.

When the issue of addiction is discussed, there are always strong stereotypes that people bring to mind. They do not usually need to drag these images from the dark recesses of the human psyche. Instead, these impressions lurk just below the surface. Desperate and unappealing, they wait for an instance to grow stronger and be reinforced. Left unchecked, these images become fact and blind us to the subtleties of dependency. Our vulnerability exposed, we become as susceptible as our water-dwelling neighbouring fish, just waiting for the right looking hook to bite on.

Acknowledging the possibility that we may be susceptible to dependency will go some way to vanquishing the stills we store in our minds eye regarding those stereotypes. This accomplished, the stoplight falls uncomfortably to us. In such circumstances we might be tempted to dismiss the seriousness of our own less obvious and perhaps hidden support structures. So why is it so serious and how does scripture penetrate this refined deception?

God is to be unsurpassed in every area of our lives., ‘Love your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind.’ (Matthew 22:37). God is to be pre-eminent in all things. It follows that anything superseding our relationship with God is a replacement god, whether it can be seen as in a physical object or unseen resembling an ideology. Each, if it occupies the position that God demands alone for himself is sin, ‘You shall have no other gods before me.’ (Exodus 20:3).

You don’t have to look too far to see that humans are creatures of habit, some routines are harmless and others can lead to dependency. The external things can be easier to identify, anxiety about acquiring the latest electronic device, those fashionable new shoes or any one of the chemical addictions. What can be missed, is our social interaction and behaviours; we can become locked into personality traits that provide an effective place to hide ourselves. Hating people and things; always looking to disagree with others, jealousy, violent out bursts, secretive and selfish ambition and resentment of those around us. These are only some of the manifestations of what St. Paul calls the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19-21).

This protectionism means that we do not have to face God and others with who we really are. Other disruptive personas can include self-loathing; thinking others more significant to God and being arrogant and self-important. To all these charges scripture inundates the shadows of our mind with light so that we may be bathed in the truth (1John 1:5).

Battling Dependency

So the ride was a little turbulent, now is a good time to exhale!

Habitual practices have the potential to become addictive and they can in turn dictate the way in which we experience life. The battle begins in the mind.

‘Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ (Romans 12:2).

As new creations (2Corinthians 5:17) we can be renewed, Paul urges this as an act of worship because of God’s mercy. How? By surrendering those habits that hold us, this involves vulnerability, letting down the defences that we have grown so comfortable with. Give up your temper and replace it with gentleness; trade anger for self-control (Galatians 5:19-26); take some risks and trust in the one who is the perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Choose to make yourself accountable to those who you trust, respect and who walk intimately with God. ‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’ (Galatians 6:2). Learn to keep your focus on Jesus and do not allow your life in God to become tepid. Instead choose to be dynamically changed by him, have God change you heart (Psalm 51:10-12).

Get together with two or more believers regularly and engage in life changing prayer, practise God’s promises for you, tell each other the outcomes and thank him for a challenging and rewarding life of faith (Matthew 18:19-20).

Choose to see yourself as God sees you in Christ and in doing so give up the crippling self-deprecation and inward torture. This is part of the new creation in which believers can live, however it requires courage and trust as we give up our well rehearsed defences and step into freedom (John 10:10).

Going deeper

Take a closer look at Timothy’s relationship to Paul. From the way Paul writes to Timothy do you think he found in Paul a man who he could trust and who he could be accountable to?

1Corinthians 16:10
1Timothy 1:2
1Timothy 1:3-4
1Timothy 4:11-16
1Timothy 6:11-16
1Timothy 6:20-21
2Timothy 1:1-12
2Timothy 3:10-17

Put to death the old things:
Galatians 5:19-26
Ephesians 5
Colossians 3:5-10

Meditate on how God sees you because of Christ:

Righteous - 1 Corinthians 1:30
Redeemed - Colossians 1:13-14
Forgiven - 1 John 2:12
His child - Romans 8:15-16 ; 1 John 3:1-2
His temple - 1Corinthians 3:16
Co-heir - Romans 8:17
His friend - John 15:13-15