Addiction

Addiction is at an all time high, or so it seems. The reality is addiction isn’t anything new. What is new are some of the horrible things people are addicted to.

The Websters 1828 dictionary defines addiction as “the act of devoting or giving up in practice; the state of being devoted.”

People would be surprised to find addiction mentioned in the Bible. The King James version says, “I beseech you, brethren, ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” 1 Cor 15:16.

Since addiction is now only associated with negative substances or habits, other Bible translations have removed the “bad” word and replaced it with “devoted,” “put themselves into service,”  or “dedicated.” I am not sure that removing the powerful, all dedicated word has done this verse justice.

When one is addicted, they think about that thing most of the time. It hovers around all they do. If one is addicted to cigarettes, all one thinks about is their next smoke break. They are devoted to smoking, they have practiced the enjoyment of smoking.

When we give ourselves over to something, the more we get or participate in it,  the more we want it. There is a saying that practice makes perfect. It doesn’t; it makes permanent. We need to practice only those things we want in our lives, forever.

Jesus,  lived as a man who dedicated or addicted himself to the Father. He only said and did what the Father said. (John 5:19, 30, John 12:49) Jesus was addicted or gave himself over to to the word of God.

Our heart (spirit) was meant to be filled with God. When we try to fill it with anything else, we are always left wanting. We feel lost and lonely, we lack purpose. Filling your heart with anything else often leads to catastrophic ends.

The temptation to fill our hearts with other things is what Satan does. He tempted Jesus the same way. Jesus was tempted for 40 days to exert His power outside the will of God. Remember, Jesus only did and said what the Father said. It ended when Jesus said, “Get behind me Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall your serve.” Luke 4:8

Substances and unhealthy vices promise to make us feel better, heal our hearts, satisfy our soul and deliver us out of the pits of despair. That’s what the word will do for you.

“Commit your works to the Lord and your thoughts will be established.” Proverbs 16: 3 

“My son give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings and keep them in the midst of your heart for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life.” Proverbs 4″20-23

The only thing we should be addicted to is His word, the Bible.  Since Jesus is the word, devoting ourselves to the Bible is devoting ourselves to Jesus. If Jesus needed to only say what God says, we do, too!

You might be saying, “I just can’t get excited about the Bible.” Well, remember how you really weren’t  that excited about the first taste of coffee, hot peppers or something else you are now into? It grew on you because you did it over and over. You purposed to do that thing. Give the same practice to reading your Bible. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and devote yourself to reading it. When you enter into His presence with expectancy,  He  promises to be there. (James 4:8 ) The more you get, the more you will want.