Wisdom's Corner
Get an AddictionI am sure that the title of this article got your attention. No matter what country you live in, you know how bad an addiction can be. Many, many people are addicted to drugs or alcohol. Governments all over the world are trying to stop the sale of illegal drugs.
In the United States there are several drug education programs which young people can go through to teach them not to take drugs that cause addiction. They are taught that addiction causes all kinds of problems in a person's life. It can lead to diseases, pain, suffering, loss of possessions, loss of family, and loss of life.
Why does addiction do this? It is because a person only thinks about what he is addicted to. He constantly thinks about how to get the drug. He constantly thinks about how good it will be to have the drug. He has trouble doing anything unless he has some of the drug. In other words, the drug is the most important thing on his mind.
But there is a good addiction. In 1 Corinthians 16:15 we read, "I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints)" (King James Version). The word "addicted" means to "set one's mind on" or to "organize one's mind on".
It is not wrong to have our minds set on doing good for other Christians. All Christians are members of the family of God. We should constantly be seeing what we can do for each other. We should constantly be thinking about how we can encourage another Christian. We should not feel good unless we have been able to do something good for someone else.
This kind of addiction gets our minds off of ourself. Instead of thinking about what we want, we are thinking about what others need. Do not get addicted to the wrong things. Set your mind on helping and doing for others. And of course, what we do for others will be centered on what God wants for everyone.
Until next time, get God's wisdom. Study to find out what God wants for all people. Read to find out what we should be doing for others. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
Mark McWhorter
Copyright 1999
Published by The Old Paths Bible School
(http://www.oldpaths.org)