The Scourge of Addictions
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh”. Galatians 5:16
According to Mr. Webster, a “scourge” is any means of inflicting severe punishment, suffering, or vengeance”. Why do so many people get caught in the trap of harmful addictions? Folks become addicted to all sorts of things: drugs, wealth, alcohol, smoking, food, sex, ambition, and popularity, to name a few. We know that we have a huge problem in this country with people addicted to drugs. With the vast amounts of fentanyl coming across the border basically unchecked and being added to other drugs, thousands of people, mostly young folks, have died from ingesting a drug that was laced with this deadly substance. If folks could get a handle on their drug addictions, then this problem would virtually go away. If there is no demand for drugs, thus no money to be made in distributing these drugs, then the drug cartels would have to find another way to make money, and they likely would.
Folks can get addicted to money. The more money people have, the more they want. People seem never to be satisfied or content with what they have. Some people are addicted to food. Everywhere I go, I see folks who are not just a little overweight, but obese. I wouldn’t shame them or make fun of them, but I feel sorry for them. Why are folks eating much more than their bodies require for energy and health? I heard on the radio that the U.S. has the highest number of obese people in the world. People turn to food to satisfy emotions of disappointment, sadness, loneliness, and other stressful times. Of course, overconsuming alcohol has been a problem for thousands of years. People drink to forget their problems, to socialize, and just because they like to drink, but we know that too much alcohol can cause all types of problems, including accidents, disease, and death.
We hear about people addicted to sex. Their lives are centered around being intimate with whomever will oblige them. Unrestrained sex contributes to a whole host of problems. Not only that, but when unwanted pregnancies happen, the usual remedy is abortion. Some people consider climbing the corporate ladder their chief goal in life. Once they get there, then what? They usually find that being the CEO or president of a company keeps them from family, from relaxing, and brings headaches and stress. Upon their death beds, do they have any regrets? I would say that probably 99 per cent of them do. Some people go out of their way to be popular. That is particularly true in this day of social media. Everyone wants to be a star, to be noticed. What I have observed is that celebrities, particularly women, who have lost some of the luster of their former days in the spotlight will do just about anything to get back into the news, and this usually means doing some outlandish and perhaps vulgar things to get noticed. I have often wondered why an actress, if they are really talented, need to dress provocatively, but I suppose that is what Hollywood dictates.
One of the addictions that has trapped many people, young and old, is smoking. I think it has lost a little of its attraction, but many people can’t seem to break that bad habit. I was in Walmart recently, and there was a couple in line ahead of me who were buying several packs of cigarettes. After they left, I asked the cashier the price of the cigarettes. She said that they were cheap here, seven dollars a pack, but in New York, where she was from, she said that cigarettes were twenty dollars a pack! Imagine a three-pack-a-day smoker paying that much money for cigarettes. I am very thankful that I never took up that addiction for more reasons that one.
I truly believe that many addictions are the result of the lack of a relationship with the Lord. (That is not a hard and fast rule because there are plenty of believers in Christ who are overweight, who smoke, and who succumb to other addictions.) If anyone feels the need to be addicted to something, let me suggest that they become addicted to the love and forgiveness of Christ. He is the kind of addiction that is good for the soul, soothing to the mind, and healthy for the body. It is OK to want more of Jesus, more of His love, mercy, truth, comfort, and everything else that He provides to those who will turn their lives over to Him. In one way or another, all those other addictions will eventually lead to death or at least the loss of one’s health, reputation, and/or integrity. Drugs, alcohol, and obesity can shorten lives. Promiscuous sex can lead to disease, unwanted pregnancy, and breakups of the family. Workaholics can experience heart attacks, ulcers, and estrangement from families. Seeking to be popular rather than seeking honest and deep relationships can bring disappointment and self-doubt.
The flesh works against the Spirit, and the Spirit works against the flesh, but it is up to the individual to decide which one will dominate the person’s life. Folks don’t really need much help in allowing the flesh to have control, but living in the Spirit requires help from the Holy Spirit who is available to all who belong to Christ. It is just a matter of letting Him have control.