1 Corinthians 1 - GNTD & NBA93

Addictions come in many shapes and forms, whether it’s lust, alcohol, substances, gambling, gaming, or even excessive use of your mobile phone and social media. There is professional help to get as well as counselling from your priest or pastor.

Also, read the Bible and lay your addiction before God in prayer. Here are some passages from the Word of God to reflect upon.

James 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

We all have weaknesses within us that can make us fall and lead to an addiction. Acknowledging this, and admitting that you struggle with addiction is an important step to be free from it.

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Addictions don’t come from God, but from the world and our desires, lusts and pride. We can rely on God wanting us to be free from any addiction.

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

You may feel that you can’t break your addiction. But the Bible tells us that God can. God will provide the way of escape. Turn to God, turn from your addiction. Let God fill you with his presence.

1 Corinthians 6:12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything.

Addiction is many times when something takes control over you. Those things that are not helpful in your life and dominate your thoughts and desires you may need to cut out of your life.

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Addictions come from this world and not from God. In the end, addictions replace God as the number one in our lives. It’s not just about addictions, but also about our souls.

Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Lay your struggles before God. Ask for God’s protection and deliverance.

John 8:36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

This is the promise of Jesus Christ, that when he sets us free, it is real freedom.

This article is not intended as a replacement for medical or therapeutic help or treatment for addiction, but a complement and inspiration to those who battle addiction.

1 From Paul, who was called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from our brother Sosthenes—

2 To the church of God which is in Corinth, to all who are called to be God's holy people, who belong to him in union with Christ Jesus, together with all people everywhere who worship our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Blessings in Christ

4 I always give thanks to my God for you because of the grace he has given you through Christ Jesus. 5 For in union with Christ you have become rich in all things, including all speech and all knowledge. 6 The message about Christ has become so firmly established in you 7 that you have not failed to receive a single blessing, as you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be faultless on the Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Divisions in the Church

10 By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my friends, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you. Be completely united, with only one thought and one purpose. 11 For some people from Chloe's family have told me quite plainly, my friends, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Let me put it this way: each one of you says something different. One says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Peter”; and another, “I follow Christ.” 13 Christ has been divided into groups! Was it Paul who died on the cross for you? Were you baptized as Paul's disciples?

14 I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. 15 No one can say, then, that you were baptized as my disciples. ( 16 Oh yes, I also baptized Stephanas and his family; but I can't remember whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the Good News, and to tell it without using the language of human wisdom, in order to make sure that Christ's death on the cross is not robbed of its power.

Christ the Power and the Wisdom of God

18 For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power. 19 The scripture says,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise

and set aside the understanding of the scholars.”

20 So then, where does that leave the wise? or the scholars? or the skillful debaters of this world? God has shown that this world's wisdom is foolishness!

21 For God in his wisdom made it impossible for people to know him by means of their own wisdom. Instead, by means of the so-called “foolish” message we preach, God decided to save those who believe. 22 Jews want miracles for proof, and Greeks look for wisdom. 23 As for us, we proclaim the crucified Christ, a message that is offensive to the Jews and nonsense to the Gentiles; 24 but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For what seems to be God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and what seems to be God's weakness is stronger than human strength.

26 Now remember what you were, my friends, when God called you. From the human point of view few of you were wise or powerful or of high social standing. 27 God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. 28 He chose what the world looks down on and despises and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important. 29 This means that no one can boast in God's presence. 30 But God has brought you into union with Christ Jesus, and God has made Christ to be our wisdom. By him we are put right with God; we become God's holy people and are set free. 31 So then, as the scripture says, “Whoever wants to boast must boast of what the Lord has done.”

Ṯaaginna ṯǝthi Bɔɔlɔs.

1 Nyii ŋgwɔ kwɔlɔccɔ-ŋǝsi kwǝni Bɔɔlɔs kwɔrnɔṯɔ Allah ṯɔgwor-thi ṯuuŋwun ethoro kaavɔr kǝthi Kwɔrɔstɔ kwǝni Yǝcu. Suusṯaanus kwir ǝŋgǝri kwǝri ŋgwɔ kwɔnaaniny-gi kɔnɔŋw.

2 Nyii ŋgwa kwɔlɔcca-ŋǝsi lǝthi kǝniisǝ kǝthi Allah kinaanɔ Kɔɔrɔnthɔɔs, kila limǝ suuɽunni Kwɔrɔstɔ-ŋgi kwǝni Yǝcu, lɔrnɔṯɔrsi ethi rillinǝlɔ ter lizi-li kila tatap lǝthi ǝzir naana tatap, lǝṯi ɔrtatha yiriny yǝthi Kweeleny kwǝri kwǝni Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ, kwir Kweeleny kweeŋen nǝ kwǝri tok:

3 Ethi ne@ma nǝnni naaniŋa-gwɔ, nǝ ŋiiɽǝnnǝ ŋinḏi naanɔ-gwɔ Allah wir Papa kwǝri nǝ Kweeleny kwǝni Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ.

Ne@ma kwǝthi Kwɔrɔstɔ kwǝṯɔŋw inḏǝṯṯǝ lizi.

4 Nyii kwǝṯi ǝccǝ Allah shukran ŋwɔɔmɔri tatap ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝni ŋaalɔ, nǝ ŋǝthi ne@ma kwǝthi Allah kwinḏǝthǝŋw ŋaaŋwɔsi ethi Kwɔrɔstɔ-na kwǝni Yǝcu. 5 Ethi Kwɔrɔstɔ-na, noro lɔrṯɔ kwomne-gi tatap, kwir kandisa-ŋa ṯilŋiṯṯa-thi tatap. 6 Kaka mǝgwɔ shahaaḏa kwǝthi Kwɔrɔstɔ ǝnḏǝlɔ daŋgal-na tetter. 7 Mindaŋ mǝrŋǝsi ere iraci ŋeere mac ŋir haḏiiyyǝ wǝthi Ṯigɽim, kaka nǝkkicǝ-ŋǝ-gwɔ ṯurwǝnnǝlɔ kizǝn ṯǝthi Kweeleny kwǝri kwǝni Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ. 8 Kwundǝr-ṯǝ kwɔŋǝsi firllasi-la mindaŋ mǝ ṯurmun ernene, liira lɔɔma-na leere ki Laamin-la lǝthi Kweeleny kwǝri kwǝni Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ. 9 Allah wirllalɔ, wɔrnaca-ŋǝsi ŋɔmathi ŋǝthi Tɔr tuuŋwun tǝni Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ kwir Kweeleny kwǝri.

Ṯundǝnnǝnǝ kǝniisǝ-nǝ.

10 Nyii kwutuurǝccǝ-ŋǝsi-lɔ tur liyǝŋgǝri, yiriny-yi yǝthi Kweeleny kwǝri kwǝni Yǝcu Kwɔrɔstɔ, ethi ŋiɽaŋal ŋaalɔ oro ṯuunyu ṯɔtɔpɔt, mindaŋ mǝ ṯundǝnnǝnǝ ere naani daŋgal-na mac laakin ethoro-na lɔtɔpɔt lǝthi fikirǝ kwɔtɔpɔt, nǝ karatha kɔtɔpɔt. 11 Kaka mǝnyii-gwɔ lizi lǝthi dɔɔnɔ kwǝthi Khuluuwi andaci nǝraarɔŋw, ŋurrǝthǝ ŋǝṯi naani daŋgal-na liyǝŋgǝri liinyi. 12 Ŋiɽaŋal ŋiinyi ŋǝniŋw, kaka nǝṯi-gwɔ leere-leere daŋgal-na aarɔŋw, “Nyii kwir kwǝthi Bɔɔlɔs”, ya “Nyii kwir kwǝthi Abɔllɔɔs”, ya “Nyii kwir kwǝthi Bɔṯrɔs”, ya “Nyii kwir kwǝthi Kwɔrɔstɔ.” 13 Kwɔrɔstɔ kwundǝnnǝnǝ? Bɔɔlɔs kwǝyicǝ-ŋǝsi ki-ŋwuuɽi-lǝ? Alla ŋaaŋa laari @ammiḏa yiriny-yi yǝthi Bɔɔlɔs? 14 Nyii kwǝccǝ Allah shukran kaka niti nǝccǝny-gwɔ kweere @ammiḏa daŋgal-na mac, illi Kiriisbus-ŋǝ Ghaayuus-gi ṯɔɽɔk, 15 mindaŋ ethi kweere daŋgal-na ere aarɔŋw mac, kwaari @ammiḏa yiriny-yi yiinyi. ( 16 Imba, nyii kwǝccǝ dɔɔnɔ-ŋwɔ @ammiḏa kwǝthi Isṯifaanaas tok. Laakin ninyeere kithaayini kwokwony kweere mac kwɔmǝ-nyii ǝccǝ @ammiḏa.) 17 Kaka niti nɔɔsany-gwɔ Kwɔrɔstɔ ethi aari @ammiḏa mac. Laakin ethi kǝniny aari bǝshirǝ Inyjiilǝ, kwiti kwɔgittathɔ ki-ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯǝthi lizigwunǝŋ mac, mindaŋ etheere irṯasi ŋɔma-lɔ mac ŋǝthi ŋwuuɽi ŋwɔthi Kwɔrɔstɔ.

Kwɔrɔstɔ kwir ŋɔma ŋǝthi Allah, nǝ ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ.

18 Kaka nɔrɔ-gwɔ ŋwuuɽi ŋwɔɽɔmɔthalɔ ŋǝɽiyǝŋ, ki-lizi kila linḏi ethi kiirathalɔ, laakin dǝŋgǝr-ŋgi tǝ, nyiiŋǝ kila limǝ kilaaw, nǝroro ŋɔma ŋǝthi Allah. 19 Kaka nɔlɔɔthɔnar-gwɔ ŋaarɔŋw,

“Nyii kwugii ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯǝthi kila lǝthi yǝnǝ,

nǝ nyiiri ŋishaaṯira kithaay ŋǝthi lishaaṯir.”

20 Kwende ŋgwa kwǝthi yǝnǝ? Kwende ŋgwɔ kwir mɔ@allim kwǝthi Sherii@a? Kwende ŋgwa kwǝṯi ɔppathalɔ ki-ŋwɔɔmɔr-la ŋwɔ? Allah witi wuruusǝ ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯǝthi ṯurmun ŋaɽiyǝŋ mac-a? 21 Nǝ Allah tǝ ki-ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯuuŋwun, nɔŋw ṯiinyini lizi ethi elŋe ŋunduŋw ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋǝthi ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯeeŋen. Ŋwɔṯaŋw nǝ Allah kittatha ethisi kilǝthi kila limǝ ǝmmini ŋiɽaŋal-ŋi ŋir “ŋeeɽer” ŋǝṯiny-ŋi aari bǝshirǝ. 22 Kaka nǝṯi-gwɔ Yahuuḏ naŋninni ŋilimalɔ, nǝ Yuunaaniiyyiin tǝ, ǝṯir naŋninni ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ. 23 Laakin ǝri-nyii-tǝ aari nyii bǝshirǝ Kwɔrɔstɔ-ŋw kwaayɔ ki-ŋwuuɽi-lǝ, kwir ṯɔthɔgdasa naanɔ-gwɔ Yahuuḏ, nǝ ki Umam tǝ, nǝroro ŋǝɽiyǝŋ. 24 Laakin ki-lizi kila limǝrsi ɔrnɔṯa, lir Yahuuḏ-ŋǝ Yuunaaniiyyiin-ŋǝli, nǝ Kwɔrɔstɔ oro ŋɔma ŋǝthi Allah, nǝ ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯǝthi Allah tok. 25 Kaka nǝṯi-ŋwo ŋǝṯiyǝŋ ŋǝthi Allah ṯamthɔ-la pur-pur ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯǝthi lizigwunǝŋ. Nǝ ṯajla ṯǝthi Allah ferlle beṯṯen ethi ki-ṯifirilala ṯǝthi lizigwunǝŋ.

26 Ŋwɔṯaŋw liyǝŋgǝri liinyi; kithaayinar kinaŋw nɔrnɔṯɔr-ŋǝsi ŋaaŋa lɔrtɔ ṯatha. Neere uri kila mac lǝthi yǝnǝ, ya luurǝnnǝ ŋɔma-na, ya lɔppa ŋɔɔrɔ yǝnǝ. 27 Laakin nǝtǝ Allah allana ŋgwa kwir ŋǝɽiyǝŋ ki-ṯurmun-nǝ ethisi inḏini kila @eeba lǝthi yǝnǝ, na nǝ Allah allana ŋgwa kwir koɽɔgoṯ ethisi inḏini @eeba kila lifirlli. 28 Nǝsi Allah allana kila lǝnǝlɔŋw, nǝ kila lǝṯirsi ruusǝlɔŋw ki-ṯurmun-nǝ, lǝṯir-li aarɔŋw liti lǝthi faayitha-na kweere mac, mindaŋ mɔŋw kii ŋgwa kwǝṯi-gi ṯurmun aarɔŋw kwisaawi. 29 Mindaŋ mǝ kwizigwunǝŋ ere kweere mac kwǝllini kiyǝnǝ yǝthi Allah. 30 Wɔndǝr-ṯǝ wir ṯuwǝ ṯǝthi ŋimiitha ŋaalɔ ethi Kwɔrɔstɔ-na kwǝni Yǝcu, ŋgwɔ kwɔmǝ Allah ruusi ṯǝthinǝ yǝnǝ ṯǝri, nǝ ŋirllalɔ ŋǝri, nǝ ṯusuuɽunnǝ ṯǝri, nǝ ṯallithisa ṯǝri tok. 31 Ŋwɔṯaŋw nǝr lothone ŋaarɔŋw,

“Ethi ŋgwɔ kwǝṯi allini ki-rogɽo, ǝllini Kweeleny-ŋgi.”