"Put This On"

by Greg Quinn

April 22nd, 2026

I remember an old wise yet humorous riddle, given to me as a young teenager. It went something like this.

"Don't drink, cuss, smoke, or chew And don't date girls who do"

I still laugh when I say or hear this as it is funny, yet it contains truths that if teenagers (or any of us) follow, will yield a better life.

I was told this, but I didn't abide these words. As a teenager, even though taught not to do so, I gave in to peer pressure and did all of these things. I drank alcohol. I cussed and talked dirty when around my buddies. I smoked at times. I tried chewing. And I dated a few girls who did the same (except chewing; that was just nasty). 

I'm glad I grew up (eventually) and "put off" these old behaviors, being replaced with good behaviors that I "put on". It took time. And patience, especially for my parents and the girl who became my wife.

All of these bad behaviors (and others) were easy to engage in and I drew temporary pleasure from doing so. All but chewing. Which leads to a true and funny story.

Dad didn't smoke cigarettes even though most men in our southern society in the 50s and 60s did so. He did smoke Petrie cigars. These dried up little cigars were made by the Petrie Cigar Company in Clarksville, Tennessee near where we lived. They were about as strong of a cigar one could smoke. Dad would smoke the little cigar until the nub, then he would chew it. Dad finally quit smoking and just started chewing, which he did most of my adult life until he went on to Heaven. Dad originally cut off a piece of chewing tobacco from a hard block and would chew it. He later went to the pouch chewing tobacco like Red Man as it was easier.

I remember as a young teenager I would be out with Dad working in the fields or otherwise, and I would ask Dad for a piece of that hard block chewing tobacco. Dad said "no" (mostly because Mom told Dad he better not). Dad and my Uncle Dalton chewed every day and they would pass the block between them, each taking their pocketknife and cutting off a "plug" and chewing it. They would sit on the porch steps and talk and spit on the ground. I thought it was cool. So I persisted in asking Dad for a plug where I could chew also. Finally, one day he and Uncle Dalton agreed to give me a plug to chew on. Dad took his Case XX pocketknife and cut off a small piece and gave it to me. I put it in my mouth and started to chew. The more I chewed, the bigger it got. I spit what I could but ended up swallowing most of the tobacco juice. Within 15 minutes I was sick. And green. And the rest of the day and night and much of the next day I was sick. Sicker than I ever remember at that time. Dad and Uncle Dalton laughed, knowing they "broke me" from chewing. Mom was mad. But the exercise proved its purpose. I never asked for a chew of tobacco again. Ever.

As God worked on me in my life, I ended up giving up (or "putting off" as the Bible says) many of these other bad behaviors. Smoking never had much appeal so I gave it up pretty easy. Always made my throat raw. As I listened more to God's teachings, and made new friends, cussing was not as cool. Drinking was harder to give up but through persistence of a good young wife and God working on me in my life, I quit drinking also. So in my 20s I was able to "put off" these bad behaviors. And the riddle I was given as a young teenager was fulfilled. I quit drinking, smoking, cussing, and chewing, and thank God the girl I dated the most and ended up marrying was pure and never did any of these things. 

The Apostle Paul in the Book of Colossians talks about "putting off" old behaviors and "putting on" new ones. It is a simple analogy that all of us can understand, from the old Bible days until today. We "put on" clean clothing that is more appealing and we "put off" dirty clothing that stinks and makes us look bad.

The letter written by Paul and delivered to the Church at Colosse, a populous center of commerce in those days, yet a minor city some 100 miles east of Ephesus in the fertile Lycus Valley. Paul never visited this church yet started it through Epaphras. This letter was written in AD 60 or 61 while Paul was imprisoned in Rome. 

Colossians 3:5-16 (New King James Version)
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. There is a wealth of information in these few verses. Paul tells the Church at Colosse to "put off" old bad behaviors and to "put on" new good behaviors. Being that the Church were Believers, and had accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they had the power of God through the Holy Spirit living inside them to enable them to make this change. Just as we do today.

They (and we) are instructed to "put off" the old bad behaviors of fornication, uncleanness, wrong passions, evil desires, and covetousness. They (and we) are instructed to "put off" anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying one to another. They (and we) are instructed to "put on" the "new man" (new person through our salvation which is in Jesus Christ) and with-it new behaviors. Because we are the "elect of God, holy and beloved" (yes, by accepting Jesus as your Savior you receive His holiness and God's unfaltering love), we can then "put on" tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing and forgiving one another, and most importantly, love one to another. We are to also "put on" the peace of God and to be thankful to God in everything. We are instructed to live by the Word of God (the Bible) as it's teachings dwell in us and gives us wisdom to live a good life on earth. And we are to teach and admonish (correct with love) one another, and share psalms and hymns and spiritual songs together, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord Jesus.

Just as I had to quit (put off) drinking and smoking and cussing and chewing (as the old riddle) and not hang around those who do, we all have to "put off" our old behaviors that are contrary to God, and "put on" the new behaviors which is a better way for us to live.

This passage not only tells us what NOT to do, it also tells us with proper behaviors to REPLACE the old ways of living. Quit doing this and start doing that. Get rid of old habits, and gain and live in new habits.

Everything taught to us in the Bible is for us to gain and live in the manner in which God intended, and that is always in our best interests. It is easy for us to recognize the problems with drinking, for example, and the bad things that come from a life of drunkenness. We may not put the same emphasis on lying, or not being kind, or setting aside pride and replacing it with humility. We may not think of forgiving one another in the same light. We may not give as much credence to truly loving one another. But each bad behavior (that we are to "put off") replaced with a good behavior (that we are to "put on") likewise enriches our lives and gives us the benefits of peace, joy, forgiveness, love, acceptance, empowerment, happiness, and many other good things.

So, let's take these teachings from this passage in Colossians as a "new riddle". This goes beyond "don't drink, cuss, smoke, or chew, and don't date girls that do". This adds many other things that are damaging to our lives to "put off" (stop doing). This adds many other things that we are to "put on" (start doing). In doing so, we through the power of God's Holy Spirit living in us that comes from accepting Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we have a much better life for ourselves and those around us. We enrich the world in which we live. We prepare ourselves for an eternity in Heaven. 

How about us taking this new teaching, change our lives for the better, and help many others along the way.

You can do this. God has made a way. You may think you cannot do this on your own and you are correct; you cannot make these changes without God. God's plan is for you to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, and in doing so, gain the power of the Holy Spirit of God that will come to live in you. With this strength of the Holy Spirit, and Jesus as your Lord, you can "put off" the old man and his behaviors, and "put on" the new man and live the life as God intended.

If you have never accepted Jesus as your Savior, just pray this simple prayer right now, believing it in your heart. "Jesus, I know you are the Son of God. I know you came to Earth as the perfect sacrifice for my sins, taking upon yourself my sin and giving me in its place your righteousness. I know you died for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead, giving me too victory over death. I believe that in accepting you, I receive the Holy Spirit of God living in me to help me live a better life. I believe that through you I can have eternal life with God. And I believe that through accepting what you have done for me, I can overcome my bad behaviors and live a new life with Godly behaviors. I receive you today as my Savior and my Lord. I accept you right now, Jesus. I trust you to save me. Thank you, Jesus."

May God through the power of the Holy Spirit help you each day to "put on" the right behaviors, thoughts, actions in order to live a better life. 

God bless.

Greg Quinn