I believe that God wants us to take care of our bodies. He wouldn’t give us commands about taking care of our bodies if He didn’t want us to follow them. I also believe that some people cannot handle drugs, alcohol, or even cigarettes without falling into addiction. In this article, I want to address what the Bible says about drug and alcohol addiction. I will answer the question, “Does God approve of addiction?”
What Does The Bible Say?
When researching any topic, the first thing we need to do is check out what the Word of God, also known as the Holy Bible, says. This will be my first source of information. Also, to better understand the topic, I will draw on some other sources for commentary.
What Does The Bible Say About Addiction?
The Word of God does not talk about addiction per se (although it will be addressed in this article). However, it has plenty to say about what happens to a person who engages in substance abuse. We learn from the Bible that being addicted to anything is not God’s will for us as human beings.
In 1 Corinthians 6:12, it reads, “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” There are two essential pieces of information here.
First, everything is lawful for us; however, what we do with those materials makes them good or bad for us. Second, no substance (drugs/alcohol) should control us to where we can’t manage our lives. If we cannot contain the drug/alcohol, it is using us instead of our using it. That is certainly not God’s will for us. The Bible also tells us that there are consequences of substance abuse ( Romans 6:23 ). It reads, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” The bad news is that sin has consequences; the good news is that there’s a way to avoid those consequences. Substance abuse brings death, which separates us from God (separation from God = eternal punishment).
On the other hand, accepting Jesus as our Savior and following Him will gain eternal life. For those who have a problem with substance abuse, the first thing you need to do is determine if there’s a willingness to change. As the Bible tell us in ( Revelation 2:5 ). Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” If you’re ready to make a change in your life, you must confess it to God ( 1 John 1:9 ).
If you’ve confessed your sin (drug/alcohol abuse) to God through Jesus Christ, then I congratulate you on taking the first step. The Bible tells us that it’s now time to turn away from this sin and go in a different direction. The Word of God tells us, “For this you know, that no whoremonger , nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater , hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” In other words, you must break away from your sinful friends and associations. The Bible also tells us to avoid people who are living in sin ( 2 Corinthians 6:17 ).
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be the separate , saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” If you aren’t sure that you can break away from your friends, the Bible has some advice for you ( 1 Corinthians 15:33 ). “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” In other words, if you keep hanging around with drug and alcohol abusers, it will rub off on you.
You cannot hang out with both Godly people and unregenerate people at the same time without becoming like the unregenerate people. The Bible also tells us to avoid places where sin is commonly practiced ( 1 Corinthians 5:10 ). If you’re not sure if a place is terrible, you can pray for God’s guidance ( James 1:5 ). “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God , that giveth to all men liberally , and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” In conclusion, the Bible tells us in ( John 14:6 ) that we must follow Jesus Christ to have eternal life. If you are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction, we can help; call now on 844-639-8371.