This morning as I was watching “Life Today”, a Christian talk show (www.lifetoday.org ), the topic of discussion was weight loss and how to “Lose It for Life”. Many people struggle with the seemingly hopeless issue of weight management. Being overweight is just one of the many battles that seems to have no final victory. It seems to be an enduring struggle.
Success in conquering a personal struggle requires accountability, support and wise counsel
In this discussion about attaining a successful weight loss program, it became evident that a key ingredient for being able to “lose it for life” is accountability to other people. Success in conquering a personal struggle requires accountability, support and wise counsel, in many cases.
What addiction, bad habit or stronghold do you struggle with the most? Does it seem impossible to overcome no matter how hard you try? Is it too overwhelming for you to even attempt to overcome? Do you feel doomed to failure? Do you even want to overcome it?
Stephen Arterburn, co-author of this weight loss concept, brought to my attention an interesting verse of Scripture that we Christians have likely heard at one time or another throughout our Christian walk.
“Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to escape it.” I Corinthians 10:12, 13
This familiar verse seems to be saying that there is not any temptation that God allows in my life that I cannot resist by myself, right? That is the way that I have interpreted it in the past. If indeed I must conquer it on my own, then I should be able to conquer any temptation (weight loss, unhealthy relationships, caffeine, or otherwise) by just resisting temptation or by choosing to “just say no”, as the old slogan says, right? If that is true, then why have I so consistently failed in breaking my habits and addictions?
As I listened to Mr. Arterburn speak further about this verse, I realized that my interpretation was somewhat flawed. The verse does not say that God will provide the way of escape for me to resist those temptations on my own every time. In fact, the writer begins by warning against prideful arrogance that can lead one to make careless decisions and then fall into the very act he was so proud of resisting. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Don’t be prideful but be careful and cautious and alert.
But there is another point that caught my attention…a new perspective for me. God will sometimes provide the way of escape through the help and assistance of other people. I don’t HAVE to resist it on my own every time. Sometimes, in fact oftentimes, He works through other people to help me out of my dilemma! Now that is an encouraging thought!
Do you remember the illustration of the man who was trapped in his house during a flood? The desperate man prayed and prayed for God to save him. As the flood level rose, three different men in various emergency vehicles came by to save him from a certain doom. But the prideful, foolish man refused their help because he was looking for God to save him in some uncommon, miraculous way. He kept praying to God to save him. And so, he died. Did God not hear his prayer? Did God not provide the way for him to escape? Of course He did. But the man was determined to have it done his own way without help from any man. Indeed,
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 14:12
God provided three different ways of escape for this foolish man. But he was determined not to listen to the men that God provided nor to consider their counsel. His way seemed right to him, but it was indeed quite foolish. Its end was “the way of death.”
We don’t really want other people to get involved in our problem because, truth be known, we really don’t want them to know just how sinful and messed up we really are.
Many of us are like that foolish, prideful man. We have a particular idea of the way that we should escape our addiction, bad habit or stronghold. We don’t really want other people to get involved in our problem because, truth be known, we really don’t want them to know just how sinful and messed up we really are. (That’s called pride, by the way.) So we try as hard as we can to clean up our act without anyone else being involved. We rationalize that once we get cleaned up or straightened out, then we can start all over again, begin anew, and live better lives… and no one will ever know the depths that we had fallen to. Sound familiar?
As Dr. Phil says, “How’s that workin’ for ya?” For most of us, it isn’t working at all. In fact, we are sinking deeper and deeper in the miry pit. Or to follow our illustration, we find ourselves stranded on the roof about to be carried away by the watery grave that our foolish decisions led us to. “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from this body of death?” Romans 7:24
So what can I do to change the direction of this certain death? I can quit doing it my own way…the way that isn’t workin’ for me!! Now is the time to listen to others around me! Now is the time to turn from my own way, humble myself, and seek the wise counsel of others! Now I must ask myself, What are they advising that is different from my way? Is it possible that they really DO know a way for me to escape this miserable prison that I’ve found myself in?
What is the alternative? If I don’t listen to others, I will live and die in my foolishness. If I do listen, there is no guarantee that their way will work and I may look foolish. BUT if their way does work…then it would be worth the risk. Maybe, just maybe, there is hope to get out of this mess after all? Am I willing to lower my pride, to admit my weakness, to accept help? It’s worth a try. Because my way is certainly not workin’ for me!
“Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” Proverbs 12:15
Lord, help me to accept the help that You are sending to me! Break through my foolish pride and humble me! Give me the courage to take an escape route that will lead to life, not death!
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