As a dog returns to his vomit

As a dog returns to his vomit

Scripture: As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly Proverbs 26:11

Observation: This Proverb first gives us the image of a dog returning to its vomit and compares it as similar to a fool returning to his folly. Most people know it’s foolish to get drunk, smoke, gamble, overeat, womanize, break traffic rules, etc… yet they do it over and over again. For high profile stars like Tiger Woods, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole, the coverage is dramatic, and their foolishness is broadcasted across the whole world as their marriages crumble. For normal people like you and me everywhere, we too suffer, and come back again and again to foolish habits. It could be wasting hours on end watching the television or going online or playing computer games or shopping. Quite often at the end of it, we regret and wonder why we keep doing it again and again. It is like a short term fix to fulfill our boredom, disappointment, or even hurt but only leaves us feeling worse afterwards.

What does Scripture teach us about breaking these foolish habits? Jesus said that if your eye causes you to sin, it is better to gouge it out and throw it away rather than have your whole body die in the fire. Probably I don’t think anyone would seriously do this literally, but the principle is that we have to take very serious action to stop doing these things. Of course, breaking these habits often takes a long arduous process, but in the long term, we would be better off if we stop returning to our vomit.

Application:- One practical way is that we should stop putting ourselves in places where temptation is strongest. If you want to stop drinking, don’t go to a pub. If you want to stop smoking, don’t hang out with smokers. Using allegory from Psalm 1, do not sit in the seat of smokers. Sometimes, we really need to flee from temptation.

Some bad habits are spiritual in nature and may even have roots from family and we need to speak out to break it in Jesus name. A son in a family of drinkers who is becoming an alcoholic may have to declare “I break all family soul ties I have linked to alcohol in Jesus name. I renounce my addiction to alcohol in Jesus name. I receive your freedom and righteousness and healing O Lord, in Jesus name.”

Finally, we should replace the bad habit with a good habit for that particular time slot. For example, if a man used to go drinking on a Friday night, he should instead go play badminton or help out in a children’s home or help clean the church. Leaving a vacuum and doing nothing is only inviting trouble.

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength to flee from places of temptation, to stand up and pray and declare Your victory in my life and to have the wisdom to exchange my bad habits for good, purposeful living instead.