Overcoming Food Addiction And Substance Abuse

Addictions are physical or psychological dependencies that negatively affect a person's life.  With Christ, there is hope.  Deliverance from the mental trap of addiction comes by focusing on the solution rather than just trying to stop the problem. Just as light dispels darkness, so meditating on and believing the solutions from God’s Word enables the believer to overcome bad habits. Any number of substances could potentially be used for the wrong reasons and wrong effect. For example, eating sugar or drinking wine is not a sin, but if you are consuming it in excess and feel that you can’t stop then it can become sin. If eating, drinking, smoking or using a substance enslaves or controls a person (makes them a “servant” to it) then it is self-destructive.  Sometimes even doctor prescribed drugs can become a problem.

     1 Corinthians 6:12-13a:

     All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me,

     but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach

     for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. (NKJV)

     1 Corinthians 10:23:

     All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me,

     but not all things edify.

The word edify means to build up.  Self-destructive habits tear us down. Regarding gluttony and

substance abuse, if you make a practice of yielding to the lust of the appetites it can lead to

sickness. Sickness is fundamentally a result of corruption in the body, the beginnings of physical

death. The Scriptures clearly teach that not every sickness is the result of individual sin, but in

some cases selfishness is at the root of addiction and sickness.

     Galatians 6:7-8b:

     Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.

     For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption...

Are you sowing to your flesh? Some good questions to ask yourself are: Does desire for that

thing become a consuming interest which all other activities are planned around? Does it affect

sound thinking? Do you use it to produce an emotional effect that replaces that which God

desires to supply? Does it interfere with your fellowship with those close to you? Do you, your

friends or your family think you have a problem? Is it a financial drain? Is it harming your

health? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then you need to address it.