Our instincts, longings, and 'human nature' often serve as ready excuses when we fail in matters of self-control.
Instead of owning the failure, and thus accepting the onus to correct our behavior, we rationalize our actions. We justify ourselves with comparisons to socially acceptable behavior: measuring up against our peer group, role-models, and even films.
Unfortunately, in doing so we make two critical errors: 1. We errantly judge ourselves on a relative vice absolute scale, and 2. we believe the lie that true joy and contentment can be found absent self-control.
“Hunger is no excuse
for a thief to steal;
When he’s caught he has to pay it back,
even if he has to put his whole house in hock.”
The theme that jumps out from this verse is simple but profound: Need does not justify sin. Let that sink in for a moment.
For most of us this represents a problem. Our go-to justification when our desires don't align with our beliefs is to generate a waiver for ourselves based on need. But here we are told said waivers are invalid.
The answer is self-control not self-excpetion.
Furthermore, we may try to convince ourselves that everyone does it or that our infractions remain below the average. Yet, we know at our core these excuses come up short as well. We know these small concessions daily erode our once glimmering honor.
For moral relativism is a philosophy that can only exist outside the boundaries of reality. It can be convenient in practice but always leaves us bankrupt in the end. Only when we accept and live according to real truth can we experience lasting peace and contentment.