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Articles
Addicted
The word addiction means to devote or give oneself habitually or compulsively to. Synonyms would be dependence, fixation, an obsession, enslavement, habit, compulsion. Folks are addicted to many things that are sinful in this world. People get addicted to illegal drugs & narcotics. Folks become enslaved to pornography, fornication, the illicit. People are definitely obsessed with money and material things at times. Humans sometimes get addicted to the bottle, booze, drinking alcoholic beverages. Folks can become compulsive gamblers, having no control over going to the slot machines, buying lottery tickets, race tracks, etc. Sometimes people we can become enslaved to King Nicotine, smoking, dip, cigars. Paul said, "All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." 1 Cor.6:12. Peter warns against such "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19. Now sadly, far too many people are addicted to these sinful things. But God can help us break the addiction, and grant unto us forgiveness if we will turn unto him. If we look to Jesus as the solution, he can liberate us from any and all sinful habits that we become addicted to.
Now it is also possible to be "addicted" to good things. Consider 1Cor.16:15, AI 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,)." Here we read about Stephanas being addicted to serving the saints. The NAS translates the phrase, devoted themselves. Humans can be engaged in good habits or bad habits. Most of us are creatures of habits anyway, so are we going to be addicted to good things or bad things? Some make a good habit to assemble "every time the door is open." If the saints are assembling, you can count on them to be there. Yet some, (as was true in the first century), have a habit of forsaking the assembling. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." Heb.10:25. This word manner is translated "habit" NAS, and "custom" ASV. I would hope that we could see the blessings and benefits of assembling regularly with the saints. Thus, let us all work on those good habits, and steer clear of the bad choices that lead to bad habits, so we can seek to please the one who died for us.
