1 KƆƆRƆNTHƆƆS 1 - NBA93 & CEVUS06

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.

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.”

1 From Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and from Sosthenes, who is also a follower.

2 To God's church in Corinth. Christ Jesus chose you to be his very own people, and you worship in his name, as we and all others do who call him Lord.

3 My prayer is that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

4 I never stop thanking my God for treating you with undeserved grace by giving you Christ Jesus, 5 who helps you speak and understand so well. 6 Now you are certain that everything we told you about our Lord Christ Jesus is true. 7 You are not missing out on any blessings, as you wait for him to return. 8 And until the day Christ does return, he will keep you completely innocent. 9 God can be trusted, and he chose you to be partners with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Taking Sides

10 My dear friends, as a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you to get along with each other. Don't take sides. Always try to agree in what you think. 11 Several people from Chloe's family have already reported to me that you keep arguing with each other. 12 They have said that some of you claim to follow me, while others claim to follow Apollos or Peter or Christ.

13 Has Christ been divided up? Was I nailed to a cross for you? Were you baptized in my name? 14 I thank God that I didn't baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. 15 Not one of you can say that you were baptized in my name. 16 I did baptize the family of Stephanas, but I don't remember if I baptized anyone else. 17 Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the good news without using words that sound wise and would make the cross of Christ lose its power.

Christ Is God's Power and Wisdom

18 The message about the cross doesn't make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God's power at work. 19 As God says in the Scriptures,

“I will destroy the wisdom

of all who claim

to be wise.

I will confuse those

who think they know

so much.”

20 What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn't God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish? 21 God was wise and decided not to let the people of this world use their wisdom to learn about him.

Instead, God chose to save only those who believe the foolish message we preach. 22 Jews ask for miracles, and Greeks want something that sounds wise. 23 But we preach that Christ was nailed to a cross. Most Jews have problems with this, and most Gentiles think it is foolish. 24 Our message is God's power and wisdom for the Jews and the Greeks that he has chosen. 25 Even when God is foolish, he is wiser than everyone else, and even when God is weak, he is stronger than everyone else.

26 My dear friends, remember what you were when God chose you. The people of this world didn't think that many of you were wise. Only a few of you were in places of power, and not many of you came from important families. 27 But God chose the foolish things of this world to put the wise to shame. He chose the weak things of this world to put the powerful to shame.

28 What the world thinks is worthless, useless, and nothing at all is what God has used to destroy what the world considers important. 29 God did all this to keep anyone from bragging to him. 30 You are God's children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. 31 So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord.