Addictions

Chuckle: "Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead." --Daniel, Age 9

Good Quote: “That, of course, is the devil's bargain of addiction: a short-term good feeling in exchange for the steady meltdown of one's life.” --Daniel Goldman

"Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, let the Holy Spirit fill and control you" (Ephesians 5:18 NLT).

People who are trying to become free from an addiction to drugs or alcohol understand an important concept. They know they will always be recovering. The lure of those substances is so menacing that former abusers who are wise know how susceptible they are to being enticed. They must always be on guard. Time and again, people in the public eye seem to be cured, but then have a relapse. This principle is true not only of drug abusers but of all sinners like you and me. Those of us who have been redeemed by Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross are not 'recovered' sinners, but 'recovering' ones. We are just one sin away from falling back into a self-destructive pattern of behavior. That's why we must be so careful to avoid any activity or relationship that will reintroduce us to the sin we hate.

We are tempted when we are drawn toward a sin. It doesn't become a sin until "lust has conceived." (James 1:15) And the more we deliberately expose ourselves to temptation, the less our resistance will be. Because we are all recovering sinners, we need to leave plenty of room between us and sin. If we do, we will be less likely to stumble again. "So get rid of all filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has implanted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls" (James 1:21).

Sometimes it takes radical action to break a sinful habit. We need to do more than ask God for cleansing each time we succumb to temptation. We must take whatever steps are needed to get addictions and bad habits out of our lives. We must confess our sin and determine to be done with it. Then we must feed our mind with God's Word and do all we can to stay away from the people and places that tempt us to sin. That's what Christ meant when He said, "If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out" (Matthew 5:29).

As the apostle Paul addressed the danger of excusing sin under the guise of Christian liberty, he wrote, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). His words can guide us in evaluating those gray areas that the Bible does not specifically label as sin.

How can we tell when something legitimate has moved from enjoyment to addiction? When people cling to activities despite negative effects, it generally indicates addictive behavior. Despite eye and wrist strain, and complaints from their families and employers, some continue to spend hours a day browsing and gaming on the Internet. Or there can be an addiction to alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Sinful habits can include bad tempers, bad language, and other hang-ups that have flawed their lives.

Has someone close to you spoken about overindulgence in some area of your life? A defensive attitude may indicate that it's time to step back and view ourselves through the eyes of those who love us. It takes humility to admit that our enjoyment has become addiction and to seek God's help to break free. If you're going the wrong way and feel cut off from God, remember, you can return. Respond to the tug of His forgiving love on your heart and come back to Him today. (Most of the above was taken from a One-Place Newsletter. The specific author is unknown.)

Love, Jerry & Dotse