Persons ought to have a collection of habits that characterize their lives. In the present society there are so many persons dominated by bad habits that we have begun to give, perhaps have already given, the word habit a bad connotation, even bad denotation. The problem may be ancient. In both 2 Thessalonians 3:6 (idle habits) and 2 Peter 2:7 (dissolute habits) in the New English Bible, the word is used in negative context. The King James translates the word as disorderly in the first instance and filthy conversation in the second. From the various words used in relevant passages the negative concept holds that the reference is to that related to unsatisfactory and repeated behavior. Translations appear to prefer the word custom for habit related to approved and repeated behavior, although it could be used also with a negative modifier. Like many words, custom has variant meanings, including tax collection in communities. We are here concerned with good habits that contribute to identity, and their meaning to self and relationships.
Jesus made it a habit to go to the place of worship to which faithful Jewish believers would also go for public services. It was on such an occasion that he began his ministry. It was here, in his hometown that he was admired as a comely son of Joseph and Mary – Luke 2:52. He had shown deep interest in faith, even learning how to read. In the limitations of a small synagogue in a small village, the people deferred to him to do what a priest might otherwise do. He was prevailed upon to read, and did so referring the Isaiah passage to himself, and so to introduce a concept that would likely divide the people on the matter of his place in the doctrine of the Messiah. At any rate, Jesus ultimately moved from Nazareth for ministry. His habit (repeated conduct/conviction) was to be a part of the ministry of the people in the local place of worship. All this suggests that we too should have constructive habits that help keep us directed for life.
The habits we develop, and they ought to begin before we leave our parental homes can become some of our most beneficial gifts to ourselves. They include some matters that may not be obvious, and others that have prevailed through the centuries, never changing in a changing society. We ought to learn early to follow habits to develop the spiritual dimension that characterizes human beings, so we develop, as Christians, the habits of devotion such as regular Scripture reading, prayer, church attendance, and some ministry, no matter how modest, that expresses the application of doing good for others. We ought to have habits of cleanliness, of following good nutrition, of moving toward maturity in our lives so to work, learn, and relate to other persons, especially those of our families. We develop habits of the mind, so to fill the time with learning life in the affirmative mode. We construct our lives with the matters we learn about that improve us so that we can evade the negatives. All this leads to constructive and fulfilling lives. No excuses need to be conjured, few apologies need to be made, healthier years, increasing in number, are experienced. There are fewer disappointments and omissions. Persons get to know and appreciate who we are, even helping us in our goals. Goals are not attainable without practice – habit. Habit becomes us. It need not be thought wearisome, and when rightly done usually seems obligatory. When we lose the habit of prayer we feel guilty and would like to regain it. We can, of course, and may find another style of prayer that suits us better. Prayer can become as habit to us as the clothes we wear and meals we eat.
We can learn the habits of thankfulness, and the ways it can be practiced. Scripture calls it a sacrifice of thanksgiving. It takes time to do all these things, so it is a sacrifice. We are giving time to this or that, taking our minutes, hours, days, not given to anything else but these determined directions of habit. When we grow old and recognize that remaining years are few there is an inner feeling that we want to give more to the directions of our habits to lengthen the time we share with those we love, in the habits of love. If all persons recognized the lifestyle practice of good habits and the evasion of poor ones more marriages would be saved, more workers would enjoy their work, more of society and God would be honored to have the committed person as a part of the way of effective life and citizenship – under God. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020