Why can’t I successfully fight addictions by myself?
Romans 7:24-25Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.
Galatians 5:17The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
James 1:14Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
We can’t fight addictions by ourselves because all we have to draw from is our sinful nature.
Isaiah 29:13So the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote.”
Matthew 22:37-40Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Luke 11:39The Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!”
Luke 18:9-14Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-3If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.
We can have great success fighting some sins on our own. We can have excellent theology, strong discipline against a myriad of temptations, and a good reputation. But to do this, we have to depend on other sinful addictions such as pride and greed. If we do the right things and say the right words without being motivated by love for God and others, then sin’s addiction still holds our hearts.
Romans 6:6-7We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
Romans 8:12-15Dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 5:22-24The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control . . . Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Philippians 2:13God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
When we relinquish our old sinful nature and evil desires, God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit equip, empower, and encourage and equip us to overcome our addictions.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
1 Thessalonians 5:11So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
Hebrews 3:13You must warn each other every day, while it is still “today,” so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God
Hebrews 10:24-25Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
A person standing alone against the world is vulnerable. We need mutual support and companionship. Enlisting a Christian friend as an accountability partner can more than double our spiritual strength.
Mark 6:7He [Jesus] called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two.
Galatians 6:1-2If another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.
Jesus created accountability by sending his disciples out in pairs. This is a wise practice to model. We can encourage and establish relationships with others who will challenge us to righteousness and agree to keep a check on our conduct.
