Hope For Change? Get Support
BY RICK WARREN — JUNE 26, 2016
“Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls [into temptation], it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 GNT).
How serious are you about breaking free from the temptation in your life?
Because if you are, let me be very blunt with you: You will never do it without support. You will never do it on your own. You won’t succeed in changing by yourself. Zero.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope for change.
In fact, once you understand you change on your own, you’ll be free to see how God is working to transform your life and how he uses other people to help you change.
The truth is, God has wired us to need each other to grow. We need each other to break free of habits and hang-ups and hurts. You need accountability in your life. The very thing that you want least is the very thing you need most. You need a friend who checks up on you, and you need a group that supports you.
The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But if someone is alone and falls [into temptation], it’s just too bad, because there is no one to help him” (GNT).
You need somebody in your life to help you with the habits you want to change. You’re not going to change them on your own.
Everybody is tempted. It is a myth that says you’re going to get to a point in your spiritual life where you’re not tempted. In fact, the more mature you become, the more Satan is going to put you on his “most wanted” list. If we were more consistent in confessing our temptations, we wouldn’t have to confess our sins.
The Bible says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to that person and gently help make him right again. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin, too. By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ”(Galatians 6:1-2 NCV).
What’s the law of Christ? Love your neighbor as yourself. How do we love our neighbor as ourselves? By helping each other through temptation. By helping others be consistent in the things they want to be consistent in. By helping them break bad habits and start good habits. That’s the best way you can love your neighbor and obey the law of Christ.
Talk It Over
- What are the qualities you look for in someone you can trust?
- What qualities do you think God wants you to look for in someone you can share your temptation with?
- Talk or think about how you could approach someone who is in sin and whom God is leading you to confront about it.
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