Enlarging The Spiritual Self
The Step Three Parable
(by Steve B.):A drunk is staggering along the street and he meets God.
"God, I can't do this anymore," he says. "Please, please, will you give me sobriety?"
God says, "Sobriety isn't free, how much money do you have?"
The drunk reaches into his pocket. "Fifty bucks."
"I'll take it," says God, “you're sober." The man stands up straight, drunk no more. It feels pretty good.
“Yeah but, God?"
"Yes?"
"I know I gave you my money willingly. But, you see, I need to get gas for my car."
God says, "You have a car?"
"Well, yes."
"You didn't tell me that. I'll take your car too."
"But..."
God interrupts and says, "I'll take the car. It's part of the price for your sobriety."
"But how will I get to work?"
"You have a job? I'll take the job, too."
"But God, how will I pay my mortgage?"
"Mortgage? You have a house? I'll take that too."
"But God, my family. How will I take care of them if You have my house and my job?"
God says to him gently and lovingly: "In order to keep your sobriety; you must give Me these things. But I will let you drive My car, as long as you remember it's MY car. You can have the job, but remember you're working it for ME. It's My house but I will let you live in it. And as for the family, they are MY family but I will trust you to take care of them."
Bible Verses About Addiction
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death,
or of obedience unto righteousness?"
Romans 6:16 (KJV)
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him,
that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin."
Romans 6:6-7 (KJV)
"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,
If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered him, we be Abraham's seed,
and were never in bondage to any man:
how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
John 8:31-34 (KJV)
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
"If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed."
John 8:36 (KJV)
"For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not;
but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not,
I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it,
but sin that dwelleth in me.For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me;
but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."
Romans 7:14-21 (KJV)
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?
Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters,
nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind.
Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV)
"Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats:
but God shall destroy both it and them.
Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord;
and the Lord for the body. And God hath both raised up the Lord,
and will also raise up us by his own power.
Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?
shall I then take the members of Christ,
and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid."
1 Corinthians 6:13-15 (KJV)
"Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit
do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."
Romans 8:12-13 (KJV)
"Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free,
and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
Galatians 5:1 (KJV)
"Therefore if any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new."
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)