Addiction

Addiction

A Dangerous Road

1 Corinthians 6:12
The numbers are staggering. A poll by the U. S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration revealed the following statistics: One in eight Americans has a significant problem with drugs or alcohol. Twenty-seven million Americans use drugs regularly or drink heavily, with over half of those needing immediate treatment. Almost 12 percent of young people use illicit drugs by age 18.

Prescription drugs reveal similar stats, with an estimated 17 percent of adults over 60 misusing prescribed medication. In some cities, the rate of death by prescription drug overdose has risen 20 percent in recent years, and emergency room visits because of overdose has nearly doubled.

Without a doubt, addiction is a pervasive problem in the United States, spanning every race, culture, and class of Americans. Yet one thing can likely be stated about each person represented in these stats: No one sets out to become an alcoholic or an addict. No one makes it his or her goal to fall under the bondage and personal destruction that addiction brings.

Sadly, the problems of addiction invade even the church. Yet we ought not be surprised. Two thousand years ago, the apostle Paul warned believers not to allow anything to put their lives in bondage. Listen to his wise words found in 1 Corinthians 6:12.

Everything is permissible for me—but I will not be mastered by anything.

It’s important to note that when Paul said “everything is permissible,” he was contrasting Christianity with false religions of the day that defined themselves by a strict list of laws and rules. Redemption was attained by adhering to a rigid standard of laws governing superficial activities such as what a person ate. Not so with Christianity. Our salvation is based on faith in Christ and a commitment to His will for our lives. Then Paul added, “I will not be mastered by anything.” It’s wise advice. Following Christ brings the ultimate freedom: freedom from sin, judgment, and hopelessness. What tragedy to allow ourselves to become enslaved to anything. Addiction will only destroy our lives, sever our relationship with Christ, and derail His plan for us.

Are you suffering from an addiction of any kind today? You don’t have to be mastered. There’s freedom in Christ to live the life of purpose He planned for you from the beginning. Perhaps you’re tempted by an addiction. Remember Paul’s warning that such actions form a dangerous road. There’s deliverance in the Lord, and the best choice is to commit to following Him from this day forward.

Why do you think people become involved in addictions? Why are addictions dangerous to our physical well-being? Our relationship with Christ?

Have you ever struggled with a temptation toward an addiction of any kind? How can you prepare to overcome such a temptation the next time it confronts you?

Fully Devoted to Christ

Luke 10:27

It might be argued that “love” is one of the most overused words in the English language. We apply the term to our favorite food or sports team, as well as to the most precious individuals in our lives. As a result, the impact—as well as the meaning—of the word can become a little vague. When someone says they love lasagna, we know they mean something different than when they say they love their spouse, child, or best friend. But how is their devotion most clearly defined? The obvious answer is, of course, their actions. Sincere, heartfelt, committed love is seen in how we live. That’s the kind of love Jesus had in mind when He gave us this passionate command in Luke 10:27.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.

There’s no waffling in Christ’s words. No halfheartedness. No second guessing. Our love for Christ must be—and can be—the central, driving force in our lives. It can become the motive for every action, the heartbeat behind every intention. Imagine what our lives can be if we embody this kind of love for Christ. Nothing could stand in our way of becoming everything God desires for us to become.

This is a life-transforming promise for every person struggling to overcome the bondage of an addiction. In the end, the solution isn’t found in more information, more willpower, or even in more well-intentioned advice and support from loving friends and family—as vital as each of these things might be. No, the answer to our addiction is ultimately found in devoting ourselves fully to a loving, uncompromised relationship with Jesus Christ. In Him we find the power to overcome as well as the strength to persevere.

Are you facing the battle of your life in the form of a life-controlling habit? Cry out to God. Commit yourself to His perfect plan for you. Devote yourself to Him with the passion He deserves as your Creator and Savior. You can be free to experience life as you’ve never known it before, the kind of life only possible when we love the Lord with all our hearts.

What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart? How will someone’s life change when they love Him that intensely?

How would you describe your love for the Lord? In what areas of your life might your love for Him be more fully seen? What can you do to demonstrate your undivided love for God?

Your Top Priority

Luke 15:5

What are our biggest priorities in life?

One good way to answer this question is to look at how we spend our time. For example, if we’re like most people we probably spend a couple hours each day on the Internet and maybe a few more hours watching television. It doesn’t seem like much. But the hours add up over time. At that rate, when we reach the end of our lives, we will have spent nearly 15 years in front of electronic devices.

In contrast, if we go to church twice a week, and spend ten minutes in personal devotions each day, we will reach the end of our lives having devoted about a year and a half to spiritual pursuits. These sobering statistics remind us of how important it is to have our priorities in order, especially when it comes to our walk with God. It isn’t always easy to defeat apathy or resist temptation. We must commit to making Christ our greatest focus and cultivating an ever-growing relationship with Him. That’s what He had in mind for us when He gave this powerful command in John 15:5...

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, He will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

What does it mean to be “in Christ”? Jesus compares us to a branch, living, growing and flourishing only as long as it is connected to the vine. God gives us opportunity to experience a vibrant, fruitful life, but only as long as we’re tapped into the Source of that life, Jesus Christ. Without Him we will wither and die spiritually, just as a broken branch will perish when disconnected from the vine.

Many people who’ve experienced the trauma and destructive power of an addiction, or seen such a tragedy befall a loved one, will wonder if life can ever really be good again. Jesus answered that question in no uncertain terms: He offers new life to all people, life beyond our finest dreams. But to receive that life, we must live “in Him.” It starts with a step of faith, a cry to Him for mercy, strength, and restoration. But then it continues as a relationship. And when knowing Him becomes our top priority, He makes—and keeps—all things new.

How is our life changed when we are “in Him”?

Why would an addiction or another negative habit be destructive to our relationship with Christ?

Take a moment to evaluate your priorities? Does any activity, habit, or possession hold too high a place in your life? Explain. How can you make and maintain Christ as your highest priority.

Obedience: The Best Choice

John 15:10

It was the worst nuclear disaster in history. On April 26, 1986, reactor four at the Chernobyl power plant near Pripyat in the Soviet Union, exploded. This explosion led to several other blasts, releasing a plume of radioactive fallout 400 times greater than that of the Hiroshima bombing during World War II. The ultimate cost was incalculable: over 336,000 people were evacuated and ultimately relocated. The financial damage was estimated at $200 billion. Worst of all was the cost in human health and life. It is estimated that thousands ultimately died of radiation-induced cancer. Many times that amount suffered a variety of physical problems as a result of the disaster.

It all began innocently enough. On April 25, plant operators had embarked on what would become a tragic experiment. They wanted to see how long the turbines could continue to produce power following the loss of main electrical power to the pumps cooling the reactor. This began an unwise series of decisions, even though operators knew reactors become extremely unstable in such situations. As the experiment progressed, the temperature within the reactor rose as the flow of coolant water decreased. By the time they realized the reaction was out of control, it was too late. The skyrocketing heat led to a series of explosions, destroying the reactor and releasing huge amounts of radiation into the atmosphere.

It was an accident that never should have happened. As the dangers mounted, automatic shutdown mechanisms within the reactor began to initiate. Warning after warning was sounded. And, one by one, safety devices and warning systems were disabled by the operators. Their failure to heed the alarms helped produce the worst man-made disaster in world history.

It’s never wise to ignore warnings. The best choice is always to do the right thing—to obey commands that are intended for our own well-being. That’s what Jesus meant in His instructions of John 15:10.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.

God has incredible plans for our lives, empowering us to experience joy and freedom found only in a relationship with Him. But such a life requires that we obey His instructions while rejecting actions and choices that will destroy His plans for us.

Don’t let anything come between you and Christ—no addiction, no lifestyle, no misplaced priority, no destructive relationship. Jesus has mapped out a marvelous road for you to follow. As you live in obedience to Him, you will discover a life greater than you could have ever dreamed.

In what areas of life do you find obedience to God most difficult? How can you overcomethe temptation toward bad choices and stay focused on obeying God’s commands?

Why is it hard to overcome a destructive addiction, even when we know what God wants us to do?

We're Never Alone

Philippians 2:13

Have you ever watched a parent teach a child to ride a bike? It can be interesting to see the reactions of the youngster as he or she progresses from climbing aboard the seat for the first time all the way to “riding solo.” In the beginning they zoom excitedly back and forth, at ease in the knowledge that the training wheels will prevent them from falling.

But then the training wheels come off and they get a little nervous. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you,” comes the reassuring words of the parent as they move away from the driveway and cautiously head down the sidewalk. The looks of concern turn to grins as they get more and more used to the sensation of riding and balance. Soon they’re beaming with delight, shouting, “Look! I’m doing it all by myself!” even as the parent carefully keeps a hand inches from the back of the seat.

When we face an uncertain path, filled with potential dangers and challenges, it’s nice to know we’re not alone. Nowhere in life is this more true than our spiritual journey. When we begin our walk with God, we receive the assurance that God does hold great plans for us. Yet we may wonder how we can fulfill those plans in spite of our flaws, weaknesses, and struggles. Such fears are answered powerfully in Philippians 2:13.

It is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.

Everyone who begins a relationship with God leaves behind a regrettable past, and life-controlling problems like addiction certainly fit that description. Many struggling to break free wonder how they can overcome. What can they do to find the strength to be what God wants them to be? This verse offers incredible hope. They’re not in this alone, and don’t have to rely on their own strength and abilities. Rather, God is at work in all of us, molding, shaping, and guiding as we move forward in Him. To paraphrase Zechariah 4:6, our lives are transformed not by our might, not by our power, but by the power of the Spirit of God.

Do you wrestle with feelings that you can’t become all God wants you to be? Are you haunted by fears of failure, that you may not overcome your past? Remember, you are not alone. By virtue of your faith in Christ, He is guiding and upholding you through the power of His almighty hand. Let your fears turn to joy at the realization that the future is brighter than you could ever imagine—no matter what has happened in the past.

What will happen if we try to rely on our own strength or wisdom to overcome the struggles of our past?

What’s the biggest regret from your past that you struggle to overcome? How will knowing that God is constantly at work in you help in winning this battle?

An Eternal Perspective

Philippians 2:12

The story is told of a man searching a list of restaurants in the yellow pages when he spotted “The Community Church Grille.” Intrigued by such a peculiar name, he made his way to the establishment. When he arrived he couldn’t resist the urge to seek out the manager and ask how they arrived at that title.

“It’s an interesting story,” the manager explained. “We began as a mission, reaching out to the people in this neighborhood. We sold chicken dinners after the Sunday service to help pay the bills. Folks seemed to really like our cooking, and the business grew to the point that we expanded to serve meals every day. Eventually the operation became so big that we just discontinued the church service to become a full-time restaurant. It was decided to keep our unique name, ‘The Community Church Grille,’ even though we no longer do ministry here.”

The Community Church Grille had a problem. They forgot their identity, their reason for being. The everyday tasks of paying the bills and meeting the responsibilities of running a small business pushed their higher calling into the background. They no longer had a vision for their eternal purpose.

Like that mission-turned-eatery, we were created by God with an eternal purpose in mind. But for many, that purpose has been derailed by the cares, concerns, and even successes of everyday life. Some, sadly, have turned to addiction to cope with the pressure, obscuring God’s designs even more. For them, the joy they experienced upon first entering a relationship with Christ has been replaced by fear, shame, and hopelessness. They’ve forgotten that the Christian walk is a daily commitment to follow the Lord and, with His help, lay aside the struggles, pressures, and hurts of this world. They need a new perspective, committing to pursue the eternal goals God laid before them in the plan of salvation. Listen to this word of exhortation from the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:12...

Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Have you lost sight of that eternal purpose? Has your joy in the Lord been replaced by the negative weight of today’s problems and needs? Maybe you’ve even resorted to the destructive force of an addiction to soothe your fears and drown your problems. There’s hope today. Surrender your needs, your cares, and your struggles to our awesome God. He has instilled within you plans that you could never comprehend. Destructive habits and addictions will crush those plans. But as you commit daily to following His plans for your life, you can become all that He’s intended you to be.

Why is it important to remember that God has a higher purpose for our lives? How can problems like addiction derail that purpose?

What steps do you take each day to ensure that you are moving forward in your relationship with God? What steps do you need to begin taking today?

Forgiven

1 John 1:9

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.

If you’ve been a Christian for any time at all, these words are quite familiar to you. In fact, the tune as well as the lyrics of Amazing Grace are known by many who’ve never darkened the door of a church or bowed their head in prayer. Penned by John Newton in 1779, this great hymn of the church has stood the test of time. Indeed, it’s estimated that the song has been recorded professionally nearly 2,000 times.

The popularity of Amazing Grace can in large part be attributed to its powerful lyrics. Verse by verse, it describes in beautiful terms the incredible grace of God that delivers the repentant heart from sin and implants within that individual the hope of eternal life.

Sadly, however, many who sing this song struggle to apply its promise personally. They can’t imagine that God would actually grant them grace and forgive their sins. “I’ve fallen too far,” they fear. “God could never forgive me for what I’ve done. How could His grace cover someone like me?”

For those who find themselves gripped by the bondage of a life-controlling addiction, the thought of grace can be especially hard to grasp. The guilt, regret, and pain can seem overwhelming. Add to that the stigma that addictions carry and they’re left to wonder if there’s any hope at all. The strong promise of 1 John 1:9 should be music to their ears.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Note that this verse carries no restrictions. There’s no small print placing conditions on the offer. God knows that we’ve all sinned in ways too numerous to describe. He recognizes that we need grace desperately. And He responds by offering His grace freely.

Do you ever struggle to believe that God will forgive every sin you’ve ever committed. Is it beyond comprehension that He offers you new life, no matter where you are or what you’ve done? Cling to the promise of 1 John 1:9. Confess your sins, commit to following Christ, and receive the joy of knowing God has cleansed you completely. When you do, you’ll quickly discover that God’s grace is indeed amazing.

Why do people sometimes struggle to believe that God’s grace will cover every sin when we repent and surrender our lives to Christ?

Do you ever struggle to accept God’s forgiveness for everything in your past? Why or why not? How can you overcome doubts about His forgiveness?