The Human Addiction

Finals are done; the trip home had been made. Christmas break has finally arrived, and now it’s “Me” time. I’m going to read the novels that have been neglected all semester. I’m going to learn how to play chords on the guitar. I’m going to paint. All these things make me happy, and having all this free time to myself sounded so relaxing. Or so I thought..


The first book I dove into was Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, which I highly suggest. Unfortunately, yet more so fortunately, the main topic that stuck out to me was his idea that self-absorption is the human disease that causes evil in the world such as racism and discrimination. Basically he was saying that we focus on our own happiness so much that we begin to subconsciously think of ourselves as being superior to everyone else. We love ourselves infinitely, yet completely ignore those around us, and even look down on those that are different than us. Pleasing ourselves becomes an addiction that is never quite sustained or satisfied. Self-absorption clouds our view of the world and prevents us from seeing the population as God’s people.

By the work of the Lord, that next Sunday in the college class, we studied Romans 12: 1-8. If you are not familiar with this section of scripture, I’ll tell you that the first part of it fits perfectly with what Miller talks about in his book. God directly tells us to be cautious of becoming self-absorbed, “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3). No person is above any other. All are different and have been given different gifts so that one cannot function properly without the other. “For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function” (Romans 12:4). So if everyone is equal, then why is there discrimination?

The answer, I believe, ties back in with Miller’s idea of self-absorption. Human nature tells us to love ourselves first and most. Satan feeds on this. He thrives on the bullying and the superiority. And the worst part is that we make it so easy for Satan to take hold of this weakness, this addiction inside of us. Love thy neighbor as thyself. It’s not a hard concept but because we do not seek for pleasure in Jesus, it becomes one of our toughest struggles.

So this Christmas season, just try loving everyone no matter who they are. Try putting their concerns and wishes before your own, and see what that does to your personal happiness. I know I will.