Obsession or Possession?

In Paul’s letter of guidance to the young new minister, Timothy, he warns him of what sort of things he can expect to see happening in his congregation in “later times” (1 Tim.4). Apart from some things we normally see as being evil, such as people being led astray by “lying spirits” and the “teachings of demons” (v.1), Paul also mentions some things that we might not normally consider as being wrong.

He warns against various obsessions, such as physical exercise (v.8) - we saw the newspaper article just last week about people becoming “hooked” on work-outs. He warns about an obsession of celibacy (v.3), and obsessions of what to eat or not to eat (v.3). Whilst we don’t see much of the former (although the opposite addiction to sex is now recognised), the later obsessions about foods, diets and ‘health’ regimes are rampant.

Whilst our physical ‘needs’ are important, it is more important that our spiritual needs are nurtured. The spiritual ‘food’ to take in is more important than bread and meat (v.6). The exercise of our spiritual abilities is more important than working-out our physical bodies (v.8).

Obsession is about “identity”.  If by ceasing to do something, we feel some sort of loss in our identity, then that thing was an obsession. Beware; obsession is only a step away from possession. Christ should be our ‘bread of life’, and it is in Him that we find our true identity as ‘children of God’.