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Conquering Codependency Biblically Online Course
https://krisreece.com/conquering-codependency/

\\xa0When you think of love and care, the first person that will likely come to mind is Jesus. After all, he gave his life so that you and I could be reconciled with God and spend eternity in His presence. If that\\u2019s not love, I don\\u2019t know what is.

And if you\\u2019re like most Christians, your desire is to BE more like Jesus. And yet, when you look at Jesus\\u2019 life and how he interacted with others, there are times that might make you scratch your head and think, \\u201cJesus, that wasn\\u2019t very loving.\\u201d

\\xa0But that\\u2019s because what we think is love often isn\\u2019t love at all\\u2014it\\u2019s codependency.

\\xa0Codependency is the need to be needed. Someone who is codependent is driven by the need to please others\\u2014often at the expense of one\\u2019s own values.

\\xa0This is not to be mistaken for the bible concept of Interdependency, which is a mutual responsibility to others with whom you share a common set of principles.

\\xa0Even though codependency displays itself as caring, giving, and self-sacrificing, at the core, it\\u2019s very self-centered, destructive, and dishonest. That\\u2019s because codependency\\u2019s focus is to serve others in order to get your needs met.

\\xa0So today, I wanted to break down a few interactions that Jesus had with some key people in scripture and show how much different that interaction would have looked IF Jesus had struggled with the dysfunction of codependency.

\\xa0(Please note, it\\u2019s not my intention to be irreverent. Rather, it\\u2019s to bring awareness to our lack of insight into true biblical love. \\xa0

\\xa0Interaction #1: Judas \\xa0

We all know about Judas\\u2019 notorious betrayal of Jesus. Judas stole money from the ministry treasury and he told the chief priests and elders where Jesus was for a meager 30 pieces of silver.

I think we could say that the life of Judas was marked by selfish, manipulative, deceitful ambition.

\\xa0Codependent Jesus would have begged Judas to change by trying to make him feel guilty. He would have told Judas just how much he was hurting him. And in his pleadings, he would have been enabling Judas\\u2019 behavior for fear of losing a disciple.\\xa0

\\xa0But our Jesus knew exactly what Judas was doing, and he allowed him enough rope to hang himself (literally). We may view that as uncaring and unloving\\u2014after all, Jesus could have prevented it. But at what point does prevention cross into control?

\\xa0Jesus will let us walk down whatever road we choose. May that be a lesson for us when we think it\\u2019s our job to change someone\\u2019s behavior and choices, all in the name of \\u2018love.\\u2019 Jesus never tried to manage others\\u2019 behavior, and neither should we.

\\xa0Interaction #2: Mary, Mother of Jesus

Many of us are thankful for all that our mothers have done in our lives. And while there is a natural bond that can occur within families, many people take this connection a bit too far. With the pervasiveness of mottos like \\u2018blood is thicker than water,\\u2019 and \\u2018family trumps all,\\u2019 it\\u2019s no wonder many people feel disloyal if they are not at their family\\u2019s beck and call.

\\xa0In Matthew 12:46-50 Jesus was speaking to the crowd in typical Jesus fashion. \\u201cWhile he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, \\u201cWho is my mother, and who are my brothers?\\u201d And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, \\u201cHere are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.\\u201d

\\xa0Our Jesus knew what his purpose on this earth was.

\\xa0Codependent Jesus would have dropped everything because his family needed him. He would have pushed his purpose aside, believing that he owed it