Addiction

Given December 29, 2018 

Addiction. What came to your mind when you read the word above? You might have thought: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or pornography. Right? But what about these things: sports, money, work, chocolate, clothes, technology (your phone). a person, reading, exercise, shopping, television, yourself or…you add to this list. The definition of addiction is: “the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. Devotion to, dedication to, obsession with, infatuation with, passion for, love of, mania for, enslavement to something”.Are we addicted?

The Bible says, “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3), the first Commandment. Have we put other “gods” above God? “Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33). God will add the things we NEED not the things we think we need or are “addicted” to.

Now, some of the things we spend a lot of time with or have placed higher up on our list ARE things God wants but, the point is, where are these things on our list? We need to check our list. We know some things should not even be on our list and those things we “need” must be prioritized. God will help with that.

So, as we look to the new year, (you might have known where this was going), let’s spend some time with our priority list and time  in prayer. Maybe we can even write down our list and make a commitment to start with God at the top and go from there. Ask God to show you how to order things on your list and in your life and which things to get rid of, (you probably already know). Maybe God will direct you to another person to help you and be accountable to. May God bless you and your family in 2019! “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20). Jesus said, “I have come to give you life.” (John 10:10).