1 Kǝrund̶us 8 - NMNT93 & 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.

Ŋen ŋəd̶eɽəd̶ia eŋen ŋəd̶əsa id̶i d̶id̶ənṯu laŋge ləpiano

1 Ŋen ŋarno ŋəd̶əsa laŋge ildi led̶a lid̶əlo ləɽo d̶əɽəd̶ənia elaŋge ləpiano ildi ldukwud̶əñiṯialo Ləgaləŋeṯr ṯa, “Nëndr pred̶ ləgerṯr d̶ələŋeṯa.” Đələŋeṯa d̶ëbəd̶ia led̶a linia enare orn d̶əbwa d̶abakaɽəjaica led̶a eŋen. 2 Ndə ed̶a gənəŋ gəbaṯa ṯa gerṯo d̶ələŋeṯa, gënəŋu gaijəba wagənəŋ garno d̶eṯəm ṯa galəŋeṯa. 3 Orn ndə ed̶a gənəŋ gəbwa Rəmwara, Rəmwa raləŋeṯəma.

4 Ŋen ŋafəṯia, ŋen ŋəd̶əsa laŋge ildi led̶a lid̶əlo ləɽo d̶əɽəd̶əma elaŋge ləpiano ildi led̶a ldukwud̶əñiṯialo, ləgaləŋeṯr ṯa, “Laŋge ildi ləpiano lero waŋgano gənəŋ, na Rəmwa rero rəmən təŋ, illi irri ronto.” 5 Ndə d̶eṯəm led̶a ləbəd̶ia laŋge ildi ldaṯa, “imwa isi,” ndə elo walla alo, ŋen ŋarno d̶eṯəm “imwa” yëni ywaiña na “nələŋ” neni nwaiña, 6 orn nëndr ləgerṯr Eləŋ gonto, Yesu Almasiya, igi laŋge pred̶ leṯo ŋuga, na nëndr ləgafr ŋuga.

7 Orn d̶ələŋeṯa id̶i d̶ero d̶əfia eled̶a pred̶ Led̶a ləmaṯan ildi lafo lafo eŋen ŋəlaŋge ildi ləpiano led̶a ldukwud̶əñiṯialo lasa ŋəsa məldin d̶əñid̶i garno ŋəd̶əɽəd̶ənia elaŋge ildi ləpiano, na nare enen ṯanəɽwato d̶eṯəm ṯa nid̶ənu nətaŋa ŋen ŋanṯa nëbia. 8 Ŋəsa ŋaber ŋəndid̶iar Rəmwa rəndaŋënṯiar, ŋen ŋanṯa ndə ləgasar ŋəsa, ləgaber ləgamiar, walla ndə ləgerr ləgasar ŋəsa ləgaber ləgeiciar.

9 Rəmojəd̶r ŋen ṯa d̶ëbəreinialo ed̶alo ad̶erṯe d̶əɽia d̶ar d̶əbëkəɽəŋaicia led̶a ildi lëbia ed̶wonaṯa ṯa aliɽəṯi eŋen ŋeicia. 10 Ndə ed̶a gənəŋ gəŋaseicia ŋəŋgi agerṯo d̶ələŋeṯa, agəsa egeɽa gəwaŋge gəpiano igi led̶a lukwud̶əñiṯialo gerṯe are gəlëɽəŋu d̶eṯəm gid̶i aŋəbəɽeṯano ṯa gënəŋu aŋəse ŋəsa ŋəd̶əɽəd̶ənia d̶əlaŋge ləpiano ildi led̶a ldukwud̶əñiṯialo? 11 Nṯia, d̶ələŋeṯad̶a d̶əlaɽəŋa, oralo igi gëbia eŋen gagirnia igi Almasiya gaiyo ŋen ŋanṯaŋu. 12 Orn ndə agəbəd̶ia mənna agəgeiyo lorldalanda ṯia na agagera nara enen d̶eṯəm ini nëbia, agëbəd̶ia mənna agəgeiyo Almasiya. 13 Ŋen ŋafəṯia, ndə ŋəsa ŋəbəd̶ia oraiñ gëbəɽəŋeinia, egaber igid̶i ese ed̶e kwai kwai bəɽəbəte, ṯa yerṯe igəbəd̶ia oraiñ gëɽəŋeinu.

Food Offered to Idols

1 In your letter you asked me about food offered to idols. All of us know something about this subject. But knowledge makes us proud of ourselves, while love makes us helpful to others. 2 In fact, people who think they know so much don't know anything at all. 3 But God has no doubts about who loves him.

4 Even though food is offered to idols, we know that none of the idols in this world are alive. After all, there is only one God. 5 Many things in heaven and on earth are called gods and lords, but none of them really are gods or lords. 6 We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.

7 Not everyone knows these things. In fact, many people have grown up with the belief that idols have life in them. So when they eat meat offered to idols, they are bothered by a weak conscience. 8 But food doesn't bring us any closer to God. We are no worse off if we don't eat, and we are no better off if we do.

9 Don't cause problems for someone with a weak conscience, just because you have the right to eat anything. 10 You know all this, and so it doesn't bother you to eat in the temple of an idol. But suppose a person with a weak conscience sees you and decides to eat food that has been offered to idols. 11 Then what you know has destroyed someone Christ died for. 12 When you sin by hurting a follower with a weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 So if I hurt one of the Lord's followers by what I eat, I will never eat meat as long as I live.