It is important to take time to consider the ways in which our habits and behaviors harm people around us. The harm may not even be intentional, but if we allow a harmful habit to continue then we are responsible for the damage it causes. Sometimes our habits harm others in the sense that they keep us from projecting God’s goodness and blessing to others as we otherwise could. Our actions obscure God’s light shining through us like mud on a window obscures sunlight. What does God think of this? How will he judge your life? How do you want your biography to read when you enter the next age of the New Creation?
So what do we if we have a bad habit that is harming our relationships? What if we have prayed and tried to break it but we can’t make much progress? Obviously, such habits are opposed to Christformation. The first question is: “How hard have you tried”? Most people try to break their harmful habits on their own without effective help from others. They pray a little, exercise their willpower, do some reading and set some goals. And then they fail. Is this the way prescribed by Jesus and his Apostles? Not really.
Embedded harmful habits are best broken by humbling oneself and getting help from someone who has some experience with breaking your type of habit. In other words, our bad habits should drive us into deep fellowship. Whether it is a recovery ministry, a support group, a spiritual counselor or a licensed professional we need to humble ourselves and seek help. In other words, relationships with experienced believers are the best way to break harmful habits. You may have to look in several different places before you find effective help, so let your love for God and others compel you forward.
So many Christians live truncated lives for lack of seeking help. Consider all the Christian ministers who have succumbed to moral failure. How many of them were receiving experienced help prior to their fall? If we have a habit that is harming others, are we not responsible for applying all our effort to remedy the situation? Jesus said: “if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off” (Matt. 5:30, NIV).
This brings us to the biggest barrier to victory over harmful habits: pride. Is it not our foolish pride that keeps us from seeking help? Are we not filled with fear of what people will think? Our biggest problem is not lack of willpower; it is our pride which blocks us from getting effective help. Ironically, people will think more of us, not less, if we do get help. Do we not respect others who admit their weaknesses and seek help?
