Our Worst Enemy

I’ve often heard it said that “you are your own worst enemy”.  Andy Stanley made this truth easy to understand in his series comparing happiness vs. pleasure.

            The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they
            may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

I always thought this “thief” was the devil, tempting us to waste our talents and resources, and it's true that he hates us, but Andy went right to “you are your own worst enemy”! When we choose temporary pleasures, we are killing our peace with God, missing the abundant life we could have.

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and

love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the

other. You cannot serve both God and money. Matthew 6:24

Spending our resources, energy and time (which is limited) for temporary whims leaves us spiritually and physically depleted, ill-prepared for life’s trials and burdens, bankrupt when it counts! Psychologists tell us that repeated behavior becomes a self-perpetuating habit, whether good or bad. A bad habit will imprison us; with each repetition it intangles us deeper in its control. We are no longer free; we are slaves. The good news is we can choose our master!

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as

obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey--whether you 

are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which 

leads to righteousness?   Romans 6:16

Choosing pleasure (which is short-lived) over long term happiness through the obedient life is like buying a melting ice cream cone with a sorely over-used credit card. After the pleasure has passed comes the stress of paying the bills. Andy points out that by choosing obedience first, you can have both happiness and pleasure. Choose pleasure first (since it has diminishing returns as you  give it control in your life) and you lose the pleasure that habit once gave as well as happiness. If I am going to be a slave, or servant, I prefer a loving Master who cares for me. That’s Jesus Christ, who died for me.

          
          I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for
          the sheep.     John 10:11