Most of us care about ourselves more than we care about anyone else. Carl Jung said it like this: “It is a sin to be too preoccupied with yourself.”
That is how we stay in addiction. We are too preoccupied with ourselves, our own pleasures, and our own lusts. It is that preoccupation that leads to a lifetime of trouble.
But when we come to Christ, everything changes. Believers can live in addiction, but can they stay in addiction? According to Scripture, there will come a time when the believer will decide he’s had enough, he must get help2, and he walks in a new direction.
The Apostle was clear: “They can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God” (1 John 3:9).
Preoccupation with self leads to all kinds of trouble. Preoccupation with Christ leads to all kinds of freedom.
Recovery Step: Become more preoccupied with Christ than you are with yourself.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
