Addiction
Apr 9, 2007
Addiction is an issue that is not easy to call out as clearly wrong. No “thou shalt not” can be found in the Bible on this subject. However, addiction is a malady that carries many problems with it. First, it puts the individual under its power. It can also prevent a person from putting God first. Finally, it can lead to covetousness, which is clearly defined in the Bible as a sin.
One problem with addiction is that it puts the addicted person under its power. An article on the Web MD web-site called “Addiction: Life in a Bottle” identifies a number of symptoms of addiction. Among these symptoms are “a greater sense of isolation” and “change in eating and sleeping patterns” (http://men.webmd.com/guide/addiction). The addict’s life becomes controlled by his or her addiction. This is not how God wants us to live. In 1st Corinthians 6:12, Paul wrote “I will not be brought under the power of any.” We cannot allow ourselves to be controlled, or under the power of, an addiction.
Another problem with addiction is that it can stop a person from putting God first. The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines addiction as “to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively.” Surrendering our lives to, or becoming obsessed with, some object is not going to allow us to put God first, which the Bible says we must do. As recorded in Matthew 6:33, Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God.” We are also supposed to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). In addition, we need to be willing to leave everything in order to follow Jesus (Matthew 8:18-22).
A third problem that addiction causes is that it can lead to covetousness. The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines the word covet as “to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably.” It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to not covet the object to which we have surrendered ourselves. During the Old Law, covetousness was forbidden by the tenth commandment (Exodus 20:17). In addition, Proverbs 28:16 states that “he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.” The New Testament is no less clear on this subject. Hebrews 13:5 says to “let your conduct be without covetousness.” Jesus himself said the following: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
While addiction is not called an outright sin in the Bible, it is, at the very least, a catalyst for sin and something that we all need to beware of.
One problem with addiction is that it puts the addicted person under its power. An article on the Web MD web-site called “Addiction: Life in a Bottle” identifies a number of symptoms of addiction. Among these symptoms are “a greater sense of isolation” and “change in eating and sleeping patterns” (http://men.webmd.com/guide/addiction). The addict’s life becomes controlled by his or her addiction. This is not how God wants us to live. In 1st Corinthians 6:12, Paul wrote “I will not be brought under the power of any.” We cannot allow ourselves to be controlled, or under the power of, an addiction.
Another problem with addiction is that it can stop a person from putting God first. The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines addiction as “to devote or surrender (oneself) to something habitually or obsessively.” Surrendering our lives to, or becoming obsessed with, some object is not going to allow us to put God first, which the Bible says we must do. As recorded in Matthew 6:33, Jesus said to “seek first the kingdom of God.” We are also supposed to “present [our] bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Romans 12:1). In addition, we need to be willing to leave everything in order to follow Jesus (Matthew 8:18-22).
A third problem that addiction causes is that it can lead to covetousness. The Merriam-Webster Online dictionary defines the word covet as “to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably.” It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to not covet the object to which we have surrendered ourselves. During the Old Law, covetousness was forbidden by the tenth commandment (Exodus 20:17). In addition, Proverbs 28:16 states that “he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.” The New Testament is no less clear on this subject. Hebrews 13:5 says to “let your conduct be without covetousness.” Jesus himself said the following: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).
While addiction is not called an outright sin in the Bible, it is, at the very least, a catalyst for sin and something that we all need to beware of.