The Carrot And Stick

The Carrot And Stick…

How do you get a mule to move? One way is to use a carrot and a stick. The carrot represents the pleasure principle. The stick represents the principle of pain.

It’s the same principle scientists use in behavior changing experimentations – whether by giving a cookie to a dog or an electric shock to a rat.

The enemy also uses behavior modification methods in order to influence your life. He seeks to get you to associate the things of God – His people, His house, His will for your life, His ministry, His ways – with pain – the stick.

And on the other hand, he’ll try to get you to associate evil and sin with pleasure, whether it be lust, gossip, an addiction, materialism, bad relationships, the world – the carrot.

How do you overcome his schemes? Stop living to seek pleasure or to avoid pain – Rather seek the will of God, and to do what is right, no matter what, and your life won’t be stuck between the carrot and the stick.

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18

Seek today to reject the pleasure principle. Don’t follow after pleasure, but follow what is right. Don’t seek to avoid pain, but avoid what is wrong.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed