“The A.A. group would have to stick to its course or be hopelessly lost. Sobriety had to be its sole objective. In all other respects there was perfect freedom of will and action. Every group had the right to be wrong.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions)
‘[I]ts sole objective’. Not God. Not spiritual growth. Not relief. Not fellowship. Not service. Sobriety.
Pursuing the objective of sobriety will involve all of those other things, but they are not the primary purpose: they are secondary purposes.
In my life, when sobriety’s my sole objective, other pursuits can contribute to the attainment of that objective, and their fruits are bonuses, not payment due to me.
When I position something else as my primary purpose, Sobriety Loses Its Priority / Purpose (= SLIP).
A drink lies down the end of all other paths than sobriety.