Addiction

O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me (Psalm 22:19).

Addiction—all of us suffer from some form of it. Some cannot control the urge to eat or drink more than they should. Others are addicted to substances that harm the body, like cigarettes or meth. Money can lead to addictions like compulsive gambling or shopping. You can be addicted to the Internet, pornography, or video games. Some people need painkillers and caffeine to get them through the day, then take a pill to help them fall asleep at bedtime. If it makes you feel good, almost anything can become addictive.

Addiction can be expensive. Some addictive habits demand a constant stream of money, and that cost can really mount up over time. How much did you spend on an addiction over the past twelve months? Couldn’t that amount have been used for something more worthwhile, like building up a retirement account or supporting a charity?

But the cost of addiction goes beyond just money. Addictions can destroy relationships. It is easy for a compulsive habit to so dominate your time and energy that the people closest to you start to question how much you really care about them.

Some addictions end up costing you your health. Alcohol, nicotine, and drugs all cause damage, weakening the body and increasing the risk of serious illness or an early death.

No matter what form it takes, every addiction takes away your freedom. The need to satisfy a craving limits your choices. You are not in control of your life, the addiction is. A strong addiction will drive you to do almost anything to satisfy it, resulting in behavior that is embarrassing and undermines your self-worth.

We are all addicts of some type, and while our habits make us feel good for the moment, the overall cost is one that ultimately pulls us down. This is why we need Jesus in our lives. He makes clear what our priorities should be, if we want to be truly happy. He forgives us for being weak in the face of temptation. He gives us strength to pull away from our addictions, and He gives us comfort when we miss them. Addiction is problem that we face every day, so make time for Jesus a part of every day’s routine.