DEALING WITH YOUR ADDICTIONS

 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.– Luke 17:33.

 

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, “Save yourselves from this perverse generation.” – Acts 2:40   

 

Somebody remarked: “If you want to save your country and she does not want to be saved, save your Local Government. If you want to save your Local Government and she does not want to be saved, save your community. If you want to save your Community and she does not want to be saved, save your Village. If you want to save your Village and she does not want to be saved, save your kindred. If you want to save your Village and she does not want to be saved, save your Kindred. If you want to save your Kindred and she does not want to be saved, save your Family. If you want to save your Family and she does not want to be saved, save Yourself!” 

That’s right: Save Yourself! 

One of the greatest responsibilities we have as Christians is to save ourselves. I can save myself from myself or destroy myself by myself. We may be saved from eternal condemnation when we became Christians, but as Christians, we need to save ourselves from ourselves.   

At Luke 17:33 Jesus said: “Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” 

What “Life” is Jesus talking about here? The LIVES we have cultivated for ourselves - the baggages we have brought upon ourselves - our ADDICTIONS! 

In essence, Jesus is saying:

“If you seek to save your life (Addictions), you will lose your life (Eternal Salvation), but if you lose your life (Addictions), you will preserve life (Eternal Salvation).”    

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE (ADDICTION)?

Addictions are habits formed, which require reformation. Addiction are those habits which tug at us and wield considerable levels of control over us. Romans 6:16 says: 

“Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.” (New Living Translation).

 

“…you are a slave to whatever controls you.” (2 Peter 2:19, The Living Bible). 

Some people are addicted to:

1.    Alcoholic beverages.

2.   Tobacco and illicit drugs.

3.   Sex (Fornication and adultery).

4.   Unforgiveness, envy and jealousies.

5.   You know what you are addicted to.    

Addictions are classified as “Secret sins’ (Psalms 19:12). These are the things we do in our “secrets” and do not want others to know about. 

As Christians, we must remind ourselves that there is no secrecy with God: 

1.   Hebrews 4:13

“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” 

2.  II Samuel 12:12.

“Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.” 

3.  Matthew 10:26.

“…there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.” 

A day has been set aside when God will judge our individual secrets (Romans 2:16).      

So, what I consider a “secret” is no secret because one day they will all be exposed. Truth is: if you do not deal with your addictions, your addictions will deal with you. At Numbers 32:23 we read: 

 ^“But if you do not do so, then take note, … be sure your sin will find you out.” 

What you hide will expose you, but what you expose you will save yourself from. 

DEALING WITH YOUR ADDICTIONS

1.   Reconfigure Your Mind

a.    Someone wrote, “You may not be who and what you think you are, BUT WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE.” How? Chuck Swindoll asked:

“If you say you believe like you should, why do you behave like you shouldn’t?”

b.   Generally speaking, addictions are first products of our minds before they become our lifestyles. Therefore, to deal with them, we must reconfigure our minds.

c.    Proverbs 23:7 says: “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”

d.   What you allow to fester in your mind is what ultimately controls you. Therefore, to deal with them, we must first of all, reconfigure your thinking. Ephesians 423 says:

                “…be you renewed in your mind.”     

2. Live an Unsupervised life.

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:12). 

a.    Until you live your life without anyone checking on you, you cannot be said to be a mature Christian.

b.   Monitor and censor yourself.   

3. Think of the after effect.

“Bread obtained by deceit is sweet to a man when he is eating it, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.” (Proverbs 20:17).

a.    There are things we do in our privacies, which lead to guilty consciences (Romans 6:21)

 

4. Die to Your Addictions

^“I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” (I Corinthians 15:31).

 

5.  Cultivate Relationships with those who are Beneficial to Your Spiritual Life

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” (II Timothy 2:22).

a.    There is no gainsaying the fact that the people you relate with will either fan the embers of your addictions or douse them (I Corinthians 15:33). 

6. Enthrone Christ

         “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30).

a.   “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”(Philippians 1:21). 

b.   “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” 

CONCLUSION

“If you seek to save your life (Addictions), you will lose your life (Eternal Salvation), but if you lose your life (Addictions), you will preserve your life (Eternal Salvation).” Therefore, save yourself from yourself so that you will not destroy yourself by yourself.