Titus 2 Woman: Slaves to Drink (Addiction)

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'Likewise, tell the older women to behave the way people living a holy life should. They shouldn't be slanderers or slaves to excessive drinking. They should teach what is good, thus training the younger women to love theirs husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to take good care of their homes and submit to their husbands. In this way, God's message will not be brought into disgrace.'

-Titus 2:3-5

Quality #3:

Slaves to Excessive Drinking (Addiction)

Breakdown:

When first I read Titus 2:3-5, I chuckled to myself (I really did) when I read that godly women should not be 'slaves to excessive drinking." After that initial humorous reaction when I considered the historical context of wine being a common & typical beverage, I understood a little better...I mean if sweet tea could intoxicate you...well then this scripture would certainly be for me. As I began to truly research this passage, read the commentaries of highly educated scholars, & found that they ventured beyond consumption of alcohol to the quality of addiction, I could not help but come into agreement. Shamefully I must admit that I even felt proud...this was one quality I wouldn't have to work on...or so I thought. 

In our culture, when we hear the word 'addiction', our mind instantaneously assumes the object of addiction to be either drugs or alcohol, & more often than not that assumption would be accurate. With that assumption in mind, it seems a bit preposterous that this quality need be emphasized to a believing woman...but I would wager that addiction is vastly prevalent (far more than we realize) in the lives of believing women. Shocked? Dismayed? Defensive? Skeptical? I was too when Abba first laid that thought upon my heart.

Consider the definition of Addiction, 'compulsive need for & use of a habit'...what in my life do I compulsively need? What habits do I have...ones that drive me batty if I don't do them? Conviction began to rise within me as I suddenly realized (to my dismay & astonishment) that judging by the definition of Addiction, I had several of them. Abba, in loving discipline, began to open my eyes to the truth. Yes sisters, as believing women we most certainly are tempted to indulge in addictive tendencies, perhaps not to the obvious (drugs & alcohol), but veiled temptations bind & chain us. What 'temptations' & 'addictions' am I speaking of? Good question. Here are a few that Abba laid upon my heart; Social Media (texting, email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest), Pursuit of Beauty, Materialism, Romance, Adventure, & (here's the kicker) my Children.

If you just read that list & think I'm ridiculous, I get it...I did too...until I began to really think about it. The battery on my cellphone went dead one day, & I was hours, HOURS (okay really only like 2 hours) without the ability to communicate...I was frazzled. The satellite internet at my home was down one day...and lemme tell ya there were most certainly 'psychological symptoms of withdrawal'! I am constantly agonizing over what I eat (or don't eat), this pimple, & that bit of cellulite. I'm fretting over what to wear, & whether anyone will notice that it's from Wal-Mart instead of the mall. There are weeks when money is tight because I purchased something we 'needed'.  The romantic gestures of men in romance novels & in movies, convince me that my marriage must be lacking something. As for how my children are an addiction, I'm not even going to get started (a whole post will be devoted to this later)...all of which consume me far more than thoughts of Abba do. Oh yes, it became painfully apparent that my prior chuckles, skepticism, & pride were hasty reactions...this was indeed a quality intended for ME. 

Sisters, Satan is far too wily to utilize drugs & alcohol as ways of tripping us up (not to diminish that these are very real struggles for some)...no, he tempts us with addictions that are far more veiled & disguised. Perhaps you think I'm exaggerating or being a bit extreme...my list certainly describes preoccupations, but Addictions?! Maybe you are even wondering just what's so wrong with those 'preoccupations'? Herein is the true problem. The object that one is addicted to becomes an idol...a god in his/her life. Scripture is clear that we should have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3) That list that I described, those seemingly harmless fixations, steal my focus...my attention...my passion...my energy...even my resources. I become so hung up on, so caught up in, each of those things that my faith winds up on the back burner. Think I'm exaggerating? How often do I check the newsfeed on Facebook before I open my Bible? How much time do I spend perusing Pinterest in lieu of studying the Word or in prayer? How frequently do I change outfits or apply more makeup to change my appearance, but neglect to change the flaws within my character (that would enhance my inner beauty)? Can I deny that my family would be far more comfortable financially if I wasn't so worried about 'Keeping up' with whatever everyone else has? When I am wholly honest with myself, it doesn't take long to realize that I often allow idols into my life...addiction does that. 

If we are to pursue righteousness...if we are to follow after Him wholeheartedly...if Abba is to be the one & only God of our lives...then there is no room for addiction...indeed there can be none in order to fulfill those responsibilities that we have as believing women. He should be the only one whom we 'compulsively need'...deepening our relationship with Him should be our only true 'habit'. We have to remove the scales from our eyes & realize that there is an extensive list of preoccupations that deceptively become addictions (idols) in our lives...and we must begin ridding ourselves of them. 

1 Peter 2:11 

"Beloved, I urge you a sojourners & exiles to abstain from passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul."

Matthew 6:21

'For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Colossians 3:5

'Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, & covetousness, which is  idolatry."

Application:

We must first be willing to be honest with ourselves about the addictions within our lives. A good litmus test for whether or not something is an addiction is to consider this; How do you react when this 'preoccupation' is gone? 

How I reacted when my cellphone battery died & when the internet was down were prime indicators of how social media has become an idol in my life. Some of you might be scared that the next step is to eradicate those items from your life...and you might be hyperventilating at the thought of throwing out your makeup bag or romance novel collection...fear not ( although for some this might be a needed course of action), I am not declaring that you should do so. Steps do need to be made, however; to change. Awareness of the addiction means that it's time to withdrawal from them...to put those things in your life back into their proper place. Depending on what the particular preoccupation is, a course of action must be taken. 

Here are some examples that I have personally put in place for myself:

Addiction: Social Media

Action: Reduction of usage & not until AFTER quiet time with The Lord

Addiction: Romance

Action: Put away novels & begin recognizing 'true' romance for what it is

Addiction: Pursuit of Beauty

Action: Be certain that there are times in which I do NOT wear makeup. Work on the sins & flaws in my character.

Addiction: Materialism

Action: Be honest about 'needs' over 'wants', be accountable to my husband in spending.

The time has come to be aware of the idolatry that pervades our culture...to be aware that it does not take the form of little wooden statues, but of disguised distractions that keep us from becoming the women Abba desires us to be. As always my prayer is that your toes will be gently stepped upon, that conviction will rise, but most importantly that answers as to how to heal from those bruised toes have been provided. We are all works in progress, & women pursuing righteous womanhood...we are all (me especially) lumps of clay being molded into beautiful & useful masterpieces. I pray that this has been an eye opening blessing! 

Previous Titus 2 Series Posts:

• Becoming a Titus 2 Woman
• Titus 2 Woman: Mentorship
• Titus 2 Woman: Behavior
• Titus 2 Woman: Gossip