“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 1 Corinthians 10:23
Second, reject anything that is producing an addiction in you. Learn to distinguish between a real psychological need, like cheerful surroundings, and an addiction. Eliminate or cut down on the use of addictive, non-nutritional drinks: alcohol, coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, and so on. Chocolate has become a serious addiction for many people. If you have become addicted to television, by all means sell your set or give it away. Any of the media that you find you cannot do without, get rid of: radios, stereos, magazines, videos, newspapers, books. If money has a grip on your heart, give some away and feel the inner release. Simplicity is freedom, not slavery. Refuse to be a slave to anything but God.
Remember, an addiction, by its very nature, is something that is beyond your control. Resolves of the will alone are useless in defeating a true addiction, You cannot just decide to be free of it. But you can decide to open this corner of your life to the forgiving grace and healing power of God. You can decide to allow loving friends who know the ways of prayer to stand with you. You can decide to live simply one day at a time in quiet dependence upon God’s intervention.
How do you discern an addiction? Very simply, you watch for undisciplined compulsions. A student friend told me about one morning when he went out to get his newspaper and found it missing. He panicked, wondering how he could possibly start the day without the newspaper. Then he noticed a morning paper in his neighbor’s yard, and he began to plot how he could sneak over and steal it. Immediately he realized that he was dealing with a genuine addiction. He rushed inside and called the newspaper office to cancel his subscription.
The receptionist, obviously filling out a form, asked courteously, “Why are you canceling your subscription to the newspaper?” My friend blurted out, “Because I’m addicted!” Undaunted, the receptionist replied, “Would you like to cancel your entire subscription or would you like to keep the Sunday edition?” to which he exclaimed, “No, I’m going cold turkey!” Now, obviously not everyone should cancel their subscription to the newspaper, but for this young man it was an important act.”
Richard Foster (b. 1942) in Celebration of Discipline (San Francisco: HarperCollins, 1998) 90-91.
I smiled when I read this because many readers don’t even remember things like newspapers, remnants of the ancient world in which I grew up. When you read that, just think Instagram, Facebook, or similar modern addictions.
In the second of ten practical recommendations from Foster, we see keen advice. “How do you discern an addiction? Very simply, you watch for undisciplined compulsions.” Knowing what to watch for helps us avoid slavery.
In writing God’s people in Corinth, the Apostle Paul stated clearly that while many things were acceptable or while he had the right to exercise many freedoms, not everything was beneficial and constructive.
When we watch for undisciplined compulsions and avoid addictions, we create margin for constructive service, for beneficial generosity, because we cut the waste out of life.
At this point, I imagine the characters contrived by C.S. Lewis, Screwtape and Wormwood, sitting on either side of each of us. They want us addicted and enslaved to anything but Jesus.
Pray for safe travel today. Jenni and I fly to South Carolina to speak this weekend on stewardship and generosity at the Abbey in Pawleys Island. That’s right, the Generosity Monk and the Soulcare Anchoress visiting the Abbey.