In previous posts I covered our unrealistic expectations, and what the Enemy is up to in our addictions. In this final thought on addiction, I want to consider what God is up to in our addictions (remember that I am looking at this from the perspective of a Christian who is part of the Reformed heritage).
Before I lay out the nugget, there has to be some theology. When I first heard of this, R.C. Sproul called it the doctrine of concurrence. It is simply the view that 2 (or more) persons can will the same thing for different reasons. It is clearly illustrated in 3 places in Scripture (there are other, less important examples as well).
The first is in Genesis 50. Jacob has died, and Joseph’s brothers fear retribution on the part of Joseph. They claim their father demanded that Joseph forgive them.
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
God also willed Joseph’s sale into slavery. His brothers had evil intentions, and are held accountable for those intentions. God had good intentions (including the humbling of Joseph). They willed the same thing, but for very different reasons.
In Job 1 & 2 we see God, Satan, the Chaldeans and Sabeans all willing the same thing but for different reasons. Satan wants Job to curse God (we looked at this in terms of addiction previously). The Chaldeans & Sabeans wanted his wealth. God had a different purpose- to reveal that Job did not love God merely for the gifts He gave. He’s going to vindicate Job from the accusations of Satan.
The most profound takes place in Acts 2 when Peter confronts the crowd with the gospel and their guilt.
23 This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
The Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead because He was a threat to them. The Romans wanted Him dead because they didn’t want problems to erupt among the Jewish people. Riots might get Pilate sent back to Rome in disgrace. Pilate wants to save his political skin from both the powder keg, and the accusations he did nothing to a rival of Rome. God’s set purpose is there as well- the saving of sinners. All willed the death of Jesus on the cross, but for very different reasons.
So, God has a purpose in your addiction. It is very different from Satan’s purpose. And it is very different from yours. Let us not think one of 2 erroneous things. Let us not think that God is not in control of your addiction. Likewise, let us not think God is to blame for your addiction. He has ordained this hard thing, in keeping with your character, in such a way as to “do no violence to the will” of the addict, for your good. Gulp!
God’s purpose is to reveal your heart to you through the addiction. He wants you to see how double minded you can be. How your allegiance is divided. How you seek refuge in things other than Him. How you worship something other than Him.
In other words, He is introducing you to yourself. And it is ugly. Really stinking ugly. He is showing you the depths of your sinfulness through the addiction itself, all the ways you maintain the addiction (deceit, theft etc.), and all you forsake for the addiction (relationships, jobs, health etc.).
His goal is not to condemn you. If you are a Christian, you have been justified on the basis of Christ’s perfect record and therefore won’t be condemned. He does this so you will repent and seek more of your refuge, joy and peace in Him. He wants all of you, and is merely showing you how little of you He really has.
God sometimes does not “stop” our addictive behavior because His purpose has not been accomplished. We are still whoring after other gods for peace, joy, comfort and more. What seems like unkindness and a lack of love is actually kindness and love. He’s going to bring us where we do not yet want to go, and where we don’t realize we aren’t. We somehow think we’re basically okay except for this little addiction. He shows us that there is plenty wrong with us, of which the addiction is but a part and manifestation. He reveals that our heart is a factory of idols (Calvin).
God is at work to wound us like a surgeon so He may then bind us up so we may be healed. Like my kids, we fight the healing work. We don’t want to face the short-term pain for long-term gain. But as a relentless lover He persists until we are where He longs for us to be, in deeper fellowship with Him.
8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12
Your helplessness in the face of addictive behavior is part of the design. We are personally unable to sanctify ourselves. Christ must sanctify us.
…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2
He brings us to the place where we are willing the same things He is. We work (a better translation for ‘act’) because He works. There is concurrence that is rooted in God’s working Christ’s work for us in us. The indwelling Spirit is applying that work Christ did for us, in us. He’s changing us from the inside out. We will and work because He wills and works it in us.
“True righteousness only begins when you come to the end of yourself.” Paul Tripp
We need to see how helpless we are, and how unrighteous we are. For some of this, addiction is the means toward that end.
Hard to believe, isn’t it? How can addictive (sinful) behavior serve righteousness? Apart from it, some people never seek true righteousness from the Righteous One. God have mercy on us, both in and through our addictive hearts.
Cavman Considers 
Wow. I have never read anything like this before. I am a fairly new Christian, but I have been back and forth since last summer with my addiction and my faith. I’d always heard (and subsequently believed) that if I am still struggling with and giving in to sin that I am not truly saved.I listen to these radio and Mp3 programs and people call in with their issues and the hosts question their saving, even though sanctification is a process. Unrealistic expectations They want to hear that remorse, and everyone has it, but still giving in to it causes doubts.
I have 1-4 drinks everyday, some say that isn’t much. I think I have a serious problem because I can’t not drink everyday and I feel that it is putting a strain on my body and my soul. I should be turning to God to calm my anxiety. Once I drink my mind turns off but I feel this terrible guilt that I am not praying or reading the Bible. I found your site through the mindful Christian site and I am really grateful. I do have this tremendous guilt for my drinking and sin but it’s not deterring me enough at the moment. At least knowing that God is still with me, I will continue reading and learning and I know that I will get to that brokenness sooner.
This particular post is fascinating. I thought that the drinking is the main issue, but like you said ” addiction is the means toward that end”. There are a lot of things going on other than that and God knows them all. It’s scary to think of all that can be, when the drink is easier to handle. I’m going to reread these 3 posts again, but thanks.
Tori,
I hope, by God’s grace, that you will see great progress in your battle with this idolatrous addiction. It is self-destructive (as all sin is). We can be plagued by guilt when we give in, again. Our sense of assurance can fade when we sin. But that does not mean our justification is suspect.
It can help to gain a better understanding of bibical Christianity so we can spot answers that can lead us off trace. I suggest spending time learning the Westminster Confession of Faith, a good summary of biblical Christiantiy.