You Are a Child of God, not a Business!

The Alcoholics Anonymous book argues that just a business must conduct an inventory to get rid of the worst items in stock, so too should the alcoholic take stock of his own life, throw out the bad ideas, and clear out the wreckage of his past.

I am a child of God, not a business. God is in the business of prospering us, and He does not want us in the business of trying to clean up our past, or to make up the losses which we have incurred in our lives.

The pains and traumas which we have faced, the wrongs which we have done and have been done to us cannot be reconciled with an inventory and some cost-cutting measures, either.

The program claims that self is man's greatest problem, yet at the same time prescribes a program which induces people to look at themselves even more.

I still remember one old timer telling me that I was going to be working my fourth step for a long time. I beg to differ. Men and women who insist on working the AA program perfectly will find that they can never stop taking their inventory.

A man's conscience cannot be eased with confession.

I should know. I spent countless hours recounting my sinful thoughts and action in confessionals, to members of AA, and to anyone else who would listen.

Yet I never felt better, and sometimes the upsets from the past would surge once again.

The inventory which AA invites us to take is really a cruel joke, like trying to hit the bottom of a bottomless pit.

In fact, even the concept of hitting bottom leads people to quit AA or to quit this life.

Man is born dead in his trespasses. He needs life, not a program of improvement.

He needs life, not just power.

He needs an identity, a family, an eternal security, beyond anything that this world can offer.

Jesus provides every one of these needs:

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4: 19)

Our greatest need is life (John 10: 10), which we receive, and keep receiving through the gift of righteousness (Romans 5:17)

Jesus stated our priorities very simply:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6: 33)

We receive the Kingdom and His righteousness through the Holy Spirit:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

With the Holy Spirit, we receive adoption:

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)

When we believe on Jesus, we become sons of God (1 John 3: 1), not businesses. Forget about the inventory, and receive God's invitation to receive from Him all things pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1: 3)