Is Jesus your Addiction?

What are you clinging to?  Is there something in your life that you cannot imagine living without?

It’s normal in our culture to have things that we are addicted to or “need” in order to get through our days. Common examples that I’ve observed or that have been present in my own life are: shopping, TV, texting, hanging out with friends, video games, school, food, soda, music, magazines, work, any so many more…

What does Scripture say? Titus 1 says that we are to “hold fast the faithful word that [we] have been taught…” Though this passage is specifically talking about bishops (overseers or watchmen of the church), I think this qualification applies to us all. “Hold fast” literally means to “hold to firmly; cleave to; pay heed to.” It’s used 3 others times in the New Testament, and two of those times are when Jesus is talking about how we cannot have two masters; we will either serve mammon (literally “treasure or riches”) or Him.

So, in other words, we cannot hold to firmly or cleave to both Jesus (the living Word) and [insert your addiction here]. We cannot find our satisfaction in shopping and Jesus. We cannot depend on both television and Jesus. We cannot be addicted to texting and Jesus simultaneously. Jesus must be all.

You see, we’ve accepted so many counterfeits. We turn to things that promise to give us what we need, all the while rejecting the One who has already provided us with all that we could ever need in Him.

We don’t need caffeine for our energy or to keep us awake at work or while we are writing that 20 page paper. We need Jesus.

We don’t need to veg out in front of the TV in order to “relax” or have “downtime” in the evening. We need Jesus (Acts 3: 19).

We don’t need to be constantly surrounded by our friends or constantly texting in order to not feel lonely. Jesus has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He is our constant Companion.

Leonard Ravenhill said, ““Where there is no joy, you have to fill it up with entertainment. The more joy you have in God, the less entertainment you need outside of yourself.”

Acts 2:42 says, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine…” The word “steadfastly” means “to adhere to, be devoted or constant to, be steadfastly attentive to, give unremitting care, persevere and not to faint, show one’s self courageous for, be in constant readiness for.” This word is used of prayer (Acts 6:4; Romans 12: 12; Colossians 4: 2), fellowship (Acts 2:42), doctrine (Acts 2: 42), and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).

So, what are you adhering to, being devoted to, and giving unremitting care to? Is it your TV? Texting? Work? Shopping?

Let us forsake all that would hinder us from pursuing hard after Jesus and cling to His Word instead! For only in Him can true life, joy, and satisfaction be found!

Let us be steadfastly attentive to, be constantly devoted to, and give unremitting care to knowing His Truth, prayer, fellowship, and ministering His Word. This is what the early Christians did. And the result?

Well, they turned the world upside down (Acts 17: 6).