WHY OUR BAD HABITS ARE UNFAIR TO OUR LOVED ONES…

All of us are far from perfect. We all have habits and behaviors that are harmful. Some of these habits clearly affect others, while others only affect us…or do they?

Let me explain with a quick fictional example loosely based on reality…

There is a man named Bob whose doctor diagnosed him with high blood pressure when he was in his twenties and was advised to watch his diet. Bob was not over weight and did not have any apparent symptoms, so he continued to eat and drink what he wanted. Bob had one sibling, a brother named Steve, who was married with a family. Both of their parents had already passed away, his father had a heart attack and mother had a stroke.

Through the years, Steve constantly pleaded with his brother to watch his diet and exercise, reminding him what happened to their parents, but Bob would respond, “I’m fine! Chill out bro!” Steve would offer to work out with his brother, but Bob would say, “Man, you can have that!” I do curls when I lift my fork and beer bottle!”

Well, Bob eventually had a severe stroke that required him to live in a nursing home at the age of 46 years old. He could not take care of himself. He had to be fed, bathed…completely taken care of. It was very difficult to understand what Bob was saying because the stroke affected his ability to speak. He had no wife or children, but Steve would come and visit him regularly. These visits were difficult because Steve would have to constantly wipe drool from his brothers’ mouth, and would have to call the nurse to clean him when he could smell that Bob had ‘used the bathroom’ in his diaper. Sometimes Steve would have to leave to room to hide his tears. He would regularly take time away from his family to visit his brother, including on holidays. Before the stroke, Bob would always come and visit with his brother, but now that was impossible.

I think it’s easy to see that Bob’s bad eating habits with his medical condition did not only affect him as he thought. Steve’s love for his brother compelled him to be there for him and see him if a condition that was hurtful to him.

This is true for all bad habits that we claim only affect us when we have those who really care about us.

Smoking…

Drug abuse…

Squandering money…

Neglecting, misusing or abusing our bodies…

Just to name a few.

Many of our bad habits forces those of us who love us to take care of us, support us, sustain us, visit us, or see us as we live out the consequences of our bad behavior.

Remember, this verse works both ways…

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)

⁸But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.