What does the bible say about addiction and what does it mean for me?
What is an addiction?
Firstly, for those who are not totally sure what an addiction is – as a recovering alcoholic and previous drug user who has been sober for nearly 20 years – my understanding of addiction is an unhealthy obsessive dependency that we use to try an achieve some semblance of ease and comfort from some form of restless — irritable discontented feeling/s we have been experiencing.
We all rely on people and ‘things’ in our lives that help ease the load and this is normal — a partner that helps with the children for instance — but when this reliance progresses it becomes a dependency, and people and ‘things’ are fallible and can let us down.
When it progresses even further, it takes on an obsessive nature and pretty soon this solution for our ease and comfort starts a reverse-effect, and it begins to harm and destroy us, as well as those around us.
At this stage we have very little control over the addiction, and any long term attempt to break the addiction only results in it tightening its grip, which will ultimately lead to death or insanity. Our addictions start off small and innocent, but end up being the very thing that if left, end up destroying us, and this road can be long and painful.
But, what does the bible say about addiction?
When we look at what the bible has to say on this, there are many bible verses about addiction, but I think of the very first commandment:
“You must not have any other god but me. You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.” (Ex. 20:3-6 NLT)
Now, many will say that this verse refers to putting something else before God, and correctly so, however I believe that we are to turn to God first, and we are to depend on Him, rather than anything else – it is God who knows how to give us the sense of ease and comfort we need and lack.
In Matt. 11:28 (KJV) it says; “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
God is saying that He wants us to turn to Him for everything, because He has the means to ease our discomfort, and this shows the immense love and care He has for us.
Another scripture I found insightful with regard to dependencies or addictions is Matt. 6:24 (NLT):
“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.”
When I was in active addiction, I remember clearly thinking what a spoilsport God was with all His rules and laws, and now I can clearly see how I despised Him, as I felt that He was putting moral restraints on my drinking. Because of this, I decided to become a self-proclaimed agnostic, as I reasoned God never helped me with anything, and there was no way of properly proving Him anyway – praise God He wasn’t going to let me go!
The last sentence refers to being enslaved to Money, but when I was in recovery, it struck me that I was enslaved to alcohol. It wielded a power over me that was impossible for me to resist, and that this had become my master. During this time God was never in my thoughts or on my agenda, so I could see that it was true that you cannot serve two masters.
Our solution to temptation and indeed, dependencies is found in the One who has walked the path of temptation – and won. That One is Jesus and He has the power to help us overcome our addictions, because He understands what it is like to go through the temptation. And we can have a intimate relationship and get closer to God, if we only step out.
Heb. 4:15-16; “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Sometimes we forget how in tune Jesus is with what we are going through, but when we realise that He was all man – and overcame – and is all God who has power, we know that He is the right solution to our addictions. The sooner we can grasp this, the sooner we can turn to Him in true faith.
However, if like me you have a need to try all the other options first, it may be a long and painful journey yet. Read the parable of the parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32.
This is such a good analogy of someone that wants to do it their way, and shows where it can lead to – with my journey, I can so relate to this. But the most powerful thing for me was that when the pain and desperation was enough to repent and turn back to the Lord, it says in vs 22 (KJV), “But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:”
This is the God we serve, and He loves us so, that when we ask forgiveness and turn back to Him, He immediately restores us to being His sons, with all the privileges and trimmings included! I praise God that this is how it was for me, and I pray that it will be the same for you too.
As a closing thought, I encourage you to read more Christian books about addiction, read bible verses about having an intimate relationship with God or seek out even more bible verses about addiction and recovery.