PIG is a term used in modern physiology to describe the Problem of Immediate Gratification i.e. the ‘PIG’ and refers to the universal principle that causes people to choose a small reward now at the expense of a much a larger reward later.  Another version of the PIG is to avoid a small punishment now only to get a bigger punishment later.

The Bible also has a name for the problem of immediate gratification and it is called the “Old Man” sometimes referred to as “the flesh” (Rom 6:6, Eph 4:22, Col 3:9).  Having dealt with the Old Man for many years I think the term PIG is just because it so well defines a creature that is totally self-centered and self-indulgent.  The PIG cares for no one but himself

Some incentives to maintain godliness such as physical health, professional success, or loving relationships may have giant rewards, but they do not always have a quick payoff.  In contrast the gratification produced by incentives such as drugs, alcohol, sex or food is immediate and for that reason exert an influence on our behavior that is completely out of proportion to reality.

I have found that at the moment of decision, to sin or not to sin, reality is bent in favor of sin.  At that moment we can not appreciate that what we are about to do is foolish, wrong or unhealthy – a perspective that would be obvious to an outsider.  The closer we get to temptation the more blind we become until a total eclipse of reason and righteousness transpires.  We actually believe that we are perceiving reality objectively but alas we are not, we are in the arms of sin.  The problem is once sin is sitting in your lap, it is hard to say no.

Conquering the PIG is more about distance than magnitude. Even though the gravity of the sun is millions of times more powerful than that of the earth’s we are more affected by earth’s gravity because we are closer to the earth.  In the same way the magnitude of eternal damnation seems so far away when compared to a crack pipe or another man’s wife.  Immediacy is the PIG’s pen!

We fail because we allow ourselves to get too close to temptation thinking we can handle it but we get sucked in as if we had just orbited too close to a black hole.  Perpetrating the sin is inevitable; escape is not even a consideration!  Immediacy to the ‘feel good’ accelerates the process.

After the fact, the guilt and all of the, “How could I have been so stupid” comments our actions seems foolish because we are farther away from the temptation.  The physical presence of crack exerts a tremendous influence on an addict’s behavior in a way he does not – and cannot – appreciate until he is removed from the temptation.  The same is true for all temptation.  Will power is only as powerful as the distance between you and sin in either a physical or a spiritual sense.

Controlling the PIG: First and foremost establish boundaries.  You know what your limits are so make them known to your friends and family so that they can help keep you off the ropes.  Finally, when you see sin coming – get out of the way.  The farther you are the easier it is to say NO!  Don’t trade today for eternity!

The pig is a disgusting creature used in the New Testament to portray life at its lowest ebb.  Don’t get caught living with a PIG.

Rocky J. Malloy