Watch Out for Drug Dealers

“Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger.” (Matthew 26:41 MSG)

Imagine you have a friend who engages in risky behavior occasionally.  She may drink alcohol socially, use drugs recreationally, gamble when visiting casinos, or flirt with strange men while on vacation. It’s not like she is an addict. Her drug dealer is a personal friend. She is just having fun and releasing some stress. What’s the harm? Most of her behavior is legal, even if it isn’t necessarily beneficial. If you, as her friend, point out that she is playing with fire, she would think you are a prude. 

When you read the above paragraph, you might have thought to yourself: Well, some of those are completely harmless behaviors. You probably have engaged in them yourself.  Temptations are subtle; we are often oblivious of the dangers until it’s too late. Like fish that fail to see the hook hidden underneath the lure, we take the bait. 

One of the most inconspicuous forms of temptation is our desire for approval. It’s the gateway to many other addictions. Like other recreational drugs, it induces an altered state of consciousness--triggering pleasurable sensations and modifying our perceptions.  It makes us behave in ways that are incongruous with what we know in our depths to be true and pure. Our approval dealers may be strangers, coworkers, acquaintances, personal friends, or family members. We think they are harmless; they give us what we desire, and they are fun to be around. The opiate of admiration lulls us. We fail to notice the strings of approval and disapproval tugging at us. We become unconscious of the danger and get lured into temptation without even knowing it.