Theme: AVOIDING AND OVERCOMING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOURS
People with impulse-control disorders cannot control an impulse to engage in harmful behaviors, such as explosive anger, stealing (kleptomania), overeating, as well as obsessions with shopping, alcoholism; gambling, addiction to sex, smoking, excessive sugar intake, obsession with body image, among other injurious and destructive behaviours. The following texts and comments x-ray these disorders and even cures for them in the light of the Scriptures.
Text: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” – 1 Peter 1:13-16
Comment: Once one has come to Christ one must determine to throw away the baggage of sinful behaviours of the past. From then another battle begins, that of fighting off the lusts and addictive tendencies that come up along the way. One of such vices is compulsive gambling, a behavior disorder in which an individual becomes progressively unable to resist the impulse to gamble. It is said that four out of five problem gamblers are men, and over 90 percent have gambled since their youth. Those who engage in compulsive gambling are usually hardworking, bright people who are able to hold their own in their professions, yet they are addicted to gambling to the extent that when trying to leave it, they experience psychological withdrawal effects similar to those of drug addicts. As with other addictive behaviours, the Christian should not succumb to the invitation to involve himself in gambling at all, lest it becomes a habit. (Proverbs 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:33) It is worthy to point out that God is against overnight wealth which gambling promises people. Quick wealth gotten through gambling and similar channels also vanish as quickly as they come. “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” (Proverbs 13:11) One can only have peace when one is contented with what one has laboured to get by the grace of God, – Proverbs 10:22