ADDICTION

Who in his right mind would volunteer to become a slave, chained forever to a life of bondage? Yet that’s just what addiction is: self-imposed slavery, selling oneself to a lifetime of bondage to habit or a substance. While we typically think of addiction as a problem related to drugs and alcohol, there are other addictions that can also be destructive. We may become addicted to work, addicted to mediocrity, or addicted to an unhealthy lifestyle. We all have our addictions, whether they are “minor” bad habits or dangerous dependencies on substances like alcohol or drugs. One thing we are all dangerously addicted to is sin. We like to do wrong. The only cure, ironically, is to submit to the control of God and his Holy Spirit. We are still controlled, but his control is always for our benefit and health, not our destruction. God’s transforming power is the only thing that can ultimately heal us of all addictions.

ADDICTION INVOLVES MORE THAN SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

2 Peter 2:19 . . . [These false teachers] promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

The key to addiction is control, what controls you. Whenever we have a master, we are slaves. Addiction is relinquishing ourselves to the control of something or someone else.

OUR GREATEST ADDICTION IS TO SIN.

Romans 6:19-20 . . . In those days, when you were slaves of sin, you weren’t concerned with doing what was right.

We have all sinned. The only complete cure for sin is faith in Jesus Christ.

BUT I AM DEVOTED TO GOD. I’M JUST DEVOTED TO OTHER THINGS TOO. IS THAT ADDICTION?

Matthew 6:24 . . . You cannot serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other.

You must evaluate who or what is most important to you. A clue to determining this is to see where you spend most of your time.

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO BE FREE FROM MY ADDICTIONS AND BAD HABITS?

Romans 6:16 . . . Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval.

Submission is a choice. We daily stand at the crossroads, choosing sinful ways or God’s way. The ways are not ours, but the choice is ours.

IF WE SHOULDN’T LET ANYTHING CONTROL US, WHY DO WE SUBMIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT’S CONTROL?

Galatians 5:22-23 . . . When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Romans 8:5-9 . . . If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

God’s control is the only kind of control that produces completely positive results.

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