It didn’t take me long to start noticing how people’s choices affected their lives.
Growing up, I watched different family members and friends and their behaviors. I noticed the obvious connection between good decisions and blessings. I also saw the bad decisions that resulted in pain. Common sense dictated to choose the path that led to long term benefits over short term pleasure.
Last week when I mentioned the problem with emphasizing minors over majors, these are a few of the majors to which I was referring.
1. Pride
Believing that I am the center of the universe will destroy my life. Having the expectation that other people put my needs above all else will result in the loss of my real friends and surround me with people who refuse to tell me the truth about myself. Proud people are not grateful people and gratitude is the root of real joy. Pride destroys relationships and the ones it doesn’t destroy become completely dysfunctional. The person who doesn’t realize that the world isn’t here for them will come to that harsh realization when it abandons them all together.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16:18
2. Misplaced sex
Sex before marriage, sex while married but with someone other than your spouse and pornography will destroy your life. Married women who are flirtatious and married men who push the boundaries of appropriateness with other women are looking for trouble. God’s plan is perfect. Find a member of the opposite sex you can love for a lifetime, marry them and enjoy the physical relationship until your heart is content. Outside of that, some self control is necessary.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. – Proverbs 6:32, 33
3. Greed
The love of money and things will destroy us. When we get to the place where we will lie, cheat and steal to get what we want, we will end up losing it all. In the Bible, Barabas was a robber. Today, we know the likes of Bernie Madoff. It doesn’t matter to what degree you sell out, you will lose your friends, maybe your family and possibly your freedom.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. – I Timothy 6:10:
4. Getting high
The heroin addict in the gutter is looked down upon, while he social drinker / closet alcoholic is a sophisticated man who knows his scotch. This is what I like to call hypocrisy. This need to escape reality by getting drunk and high is a weakness in character and only creates problems. It doesn’t solve them.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. – Proverbs 20:1:
It’s pretty simple, actually. Live clean, be honest in your dealings, stick to the one you married and keep your feet on the ground.
After thousands of years, we are still falling for the same old traps. Somebody has to be smart enough to see the danger and avoid it.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 