Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were), He left Judea and went away again into Galilee. And He had to pass through Samaria.” John 4:1-4 NASB 1995)
Compulsive behavior is defined as performing an action persistently and repetitively. The bad type of compulsive behavior is where one’s actions are aversive or troubling. Such “troubling” could impact others as well as yourself. In that category, as it relates to the bad type of compulsive behavior, you might find such things as excessive shopping, eating, gambling, the need to get to the gym daily, biting nails, checking the front door several times in a short period of time, and fantasizing over the same thing day after day; somethings that might result in negative consequences.
Admittedly, I have a few compulsive behavior tendencies, but who doesn’t. Some people just don’t recognize it or admit it. As far as myself, I confess! I change something in the décor scheme every single day. I don’t see that as bad, as long as it is my own house and I circumvent creating tripping hazards for my spouse. My behavior actually helps me to reduce or prevent anxiety or stress, just by doing something. As long as I don’t walk into somebody else’s home and start moving things around, without being asked, my compulsive behavior is not bad.
In the verses above we see Jesus told his disciple that He had to go through Samaria. Another translation renders the same phrase as “I must needs go through Samaria.” He had an appointment with the woman at the well. He had some other who needed to become believers. Again, in another place in the Scriptures, I hear the Lord saying, “We must do the works of Him who sent Me, as long as it is day; nighttime is coming when no man can work (John 9:4).” These are both great references to the good type of compulsive behavior. As a matter of fact, we can generalize things and put them in one category and label that as compulsive behavior. “That” being that Jesus came to preach the gospel to the poor, proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden and to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord. All that is truth taken from the Bible. Now, let me make it more concise, central focused, and certainly personal, “Jesus came to save you.” You ought to be thanking God right now for sending His only begotten Son. Hallelujah!
I believe the church as a whole, the body of which Christ is the head, needs to take on some good types of compulsive behaviors. I call it anxiety- free, good compulsive behavior. This includes praying, studying the word, striving every day to live according to the word or let’s say, pressing forward and making perfect progress each day, engaging in soul-winning, personal evangelizing, and using the gift that the Lord has specifically blessed you with.
My challenge to you today is to adopt Jesus’ “I had to” mentality and His “must-needs” dedication in regard to the examples I have given you of good compulsive behavior in the aforementioned paragraph. Yes, do your best to adopt the same sense of urgency Jesus had! You can do it! How do I know so! The Trinity has you covered! That’s how I know! You have the Son’s examples! You have God on your side! You have the Holy Spirit dwelling within you! You are a good steward over all that the Lord has blessed you with, including the good news. Touch somebody’s life today and let them benefit from your type of good compulsive behavior. Be blessed!