READ JUDGES 16:1-31
What is the 'dangerous self-deception' in this story of Samson and Delilah? Didn't they "love" each other? To some it would seem so! But was it healthy love? Absolutely not! It was 'Codependent' love!
Codependency is focusing on someone or something other than God to meet needs that can only be perfectly met in Him. Needs such as self-worth, unconditional love, guidance, protection, provision, etc. Yes, we can desire, enjoy and appreciate the love of someone else but because they are mere humans like us and not the Almighty, All-knowing, All-wise, God who IS love, they cannot love us perfectly.
We enter into Codependent love when we look to someone else to make us 'ok' and don't look FIRST to God. They then become a 'god' to us - a 'false god' - an idol! So Codependency is quite frankly idolatry. We may not be in a 'heathen' land worshiping gods of wood and stone but even in our so called 'civilized' country, we can have other people up on our little 'idol' shelf, expecting them to somehow come through and make our world spin for us. This keeps us in bondage to them........either trying to control them or being controlled by them.
It didn't end well for Samson and Delilah. She may have gotten money but she didn't get her man and a loving relationship and he lost his sight and eventually his life. Just like Samson and Delilah, if we look for love and security in the wrong places, we are in a 'dangerous' self-deception'
Father God, today I look to you as the one and only Higher Power who can fill me with your love and security and meet every need I have. Amen
What is the 'dangerous self-deception' in this story of Samson and Delilah? Didn't they "love" each other? To some it would seem so! But was it healthy love? Absolutely not! It was 'Codependent' love!
Codependency is focusing on someone or something other than God to meet needs that can only be perfectly met in Him. Needs such as self-worth, unconditional love, guidance, protection, provision, etc. Yes, we can desire, enjoy and appreciate the love of someone else but because they are mere humans like us and not the Almighty, All-knowing, All-wise, God who IS love, they cannot love us perfectly.
We enter into Codependent love when we look to someone else to make us 'ok' and don't look FIRST to God. They then become a 'god' to us - a 'false god' - an idol! So Codependency is quite frankly idolatry. We may not be in a 'heathen' land worshiping gods of wood and stone but even in our so called 'civilized' country, we can have other people up on our little 'idol' shelf, expecting them to somehow come through and make our world spin for us. This keeps us in bondage to them........either trying to control them or being controlled by them.
It didn't end well for Samson and Delilah. She may have gotten money but she didn't get her man and a loving relationship and he lost his sight and eventually his life. Just like Samson and Delilah, if we look for love and security in the wrong places, we are in a 'dangerous' self-deception'
Father God, today I look to you as the one and only Higher Power who can fill me with your love and security and meet every need I have. Amen