Why do I do the things I don’t want to Do

Temptation

I struggle with this almost daily, as did Paul when he penned in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Paul is referring to sin in his life, and some 2,000 years later, we are still struggling with that same dilemma, I included. As I scratch my head in wonder, as I keep repenting and striving to work with the Holy Spirit to curtail this habit I so greatly hate. As usual, I turned to the scriptures for wisdom and guidance. I also decided to research what the secular views are on this subject. This is what I found. 

Christians have been liberated from the penalty and power of sin, but we continue to live in the presence of sin, resulting in an internal battle between our sinful flesh and the Holy Spirit: (Galatians 5:17, ESV). Our sin nature is a powerful force, and Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” We do what is wrong because we are sinners. Even our good intentions (“what I want to do”) are thwarted!

Scripture tells me that my habitual sin will not deprive me of my salvation and keep me out of heaven, however, it WILL hinder my fellowship with God and cause me to stumble many times and have to humbly confess and continually seek restoration. I will also be a poor example of a Christian if my sins are seen by others. 

Another thing I learned is that sometimes we don’t just fall into sin (especially serious sin, such as adultery), we dive into it. Think about that, at first the sin was a thought, then it was pondered, then seriously considered, pros and cons weighed, lastly a decision was made, give in to sin or resist. Sinning is a process. 

What can I (we) do to curtail this terrible dilemma I struggle with? Again, turn to the scriptures for help.  Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” 1 Thess. 5:22 “Abstain from every evil.”  Philippians 3:12-14 “Press on toward the goal of Christian maturity.”

And instead of relying on secular advice or methods to help me (us) abstain from the world’s way I, (we) must rely on following God’s will by applying biblical principles such as studying Scripture, prayer, Godly counsel, reasoning, considering consequences, my (our) commitment to Jesus, delight in the Lord, and seek to honor Him in all we do. If I (we) do that, I (we) will surely reduce the amount of sin we commit and not have to struggle with the continuing question that haunts me (us) in Romans 7:15, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.”

Conclusion: We are sinners and have a sinful nature. Romans 3:23 tells us, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That’s why we do the things we don’t want to do! What can I (we) do about it? When I (we) am tempted to commit a sin and ignore the urge to resist, I (we) must remember I became a child of God when accepted Him as our Savior, remember the commitment I (we)  made to be obedient to His Word, and turn to the Holy Spirit for the strength, wisdom and assistance that I (we) will receive which will be the only way I (we) will be able to resist. 

As I searched the web for articles concerning how to resist and not do the things we don’t want to do, I found this one most fascinating.  It is from (article quotes in bold)

Psychology Today; Posted August 5, 2018 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-control/201808/why-do-we-do-things-we-dont-want-to-do. Wanting almost starts at birth!

The article starts with this quote: “Fundamentally, it is our nature to want.” I, and scripture agree, from the time a newborn learns they can stick out their hand, it is a sign they want something, and no one taught them that. As young, immature children, our wants and needs are formed by our emotions, feelings, and desires. Logic, reality, and wisdom have nothing to do with our wants. The older we become, our wants can still be dictated by our emotions, desires, and feelings; however, the feelings of greed, lust, envy, and the lack of maturity and self-control can also be added to what makes up our desires, and if we follow through in acquiring them. 

Basically, we are “wanting” creatures, and everything we do is connected to our wants. Sometimes we want things even when we don’t want to want them (I can attest to that).

Our lifestyle, upbringing, where we work, play, the church we attend, and the people we are involved with also play a role and influence what we do AND what we want.  

Understanding the centrality of wants will help you get more of what you want or strive for. Trying to understand behavior without appreciating the role of wants can be confusing.

An important thing to appreciate about wants is that wants are all about results, not actions. So, if you want to understand (there’s another want) why you acted in a particular way, think about the result, not the behavior. The consequences of your actions sometimes affect your wants, and whether you go through with it or not. 

But wants don’t care whether you like them or not. Once they’ve snuggled into your nest of dreams, desires, goals, and expectations, they’ll just get on with the business of barking orders about the results they expect (from their unique perspective). Sometimes it’s even hard to describe what we want or why we acted in a particular way, but the existence of a want doesn’t depend on our ability to describe it or talk about it.

Whether you like them or not, and whether you’re aware of them or not, the wants that are part of you are always wanting. 

It is not strange that this secular article did not mention anything about good and bad wants, and the difference between wanting necessities and being greedy. It does a fair job of describing why we want psychologically, but never mentions the dangers of wanting and the repercussions of getting them. With that said, I will stick to scripture for guidance, direction, and correction (when necessary) concerning my wants, how I obtained them, and the path I took on the journey. 

You can’t beat scripture when you are looking for answers, direction, and the Godly thing to do!