I used to work with a fellow who absolutely hated alcoholic beverages. I don’t know much about his background, but something in his life had caused him to detest drinking. He didn’t want to be around alcohol or anyone who consumed it.

This friend told me that one time someone had tossed an empty beer can into the back of his pickup truck. When he saw the offensive can, he had to get rid of it immediately. However, he didn’t even want to touch an empty beer can. So he found a stick to use to pick up the can and dispose of it.

Perhaps my friend went to a bit of an extreme to avoid something to which he had a deep aversion. However, I think that we far too often err on the other end of the spectrum. Perhaps we become too complacent, too comfortable with things that are harmful to us and to others. Are we as offended as we should be at foul language, suggestive clothing, illicit sexual behavior, pornography, drunkenness, etc.?

Maybe extreme avoidance is not such a bad idea after all!

“Reject every kind of evil.”—1 Thessalonians 5:22.