Are You Addicted?

“Addicted.” The word has mostly negative connotations.  One who is addicted to work we sometimes refer to as a “work-aholic.”  Another might be “addicted to football,” “addicted to reading” or “addicted to the Internet.”  But, for the most part, I think people relate the word “addicted” to a compulsion or dependence upon a harmful substance like drugs or alcohol.  Addiction can be defined as the “state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.”  When someone is addicted, they have no effective choice but to continue the habit–they are in bondage to the habit.

But did you know that the Bible uses the word “addicted” with a positive slant?   Paul describes the household of Stephanas by saying “they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” in I Cor. 16:15 (KJV).  New King James uses the word “devoted”.   The Greek word means that they had “set themselves” to the ministry of the saints.

I guess I like the King James version.  The word “addicted” adds so much color to the word picture.  The household of Stephanas had a habit of serving and ministering to the saints, and they had no choice but to continue!  To stop serving would cause severe trauma!  Oh, to be addicted to the ministry of the saints.  That would be a good addiction, among the many things of the world that vie for our devotion.