“Type Addict” Those who struggle with addiction want to love God with all their hearts, all their souls, and all their minds, because they loved their pagan pleasure – the object of their addiction – with all their heart, with all their soul, and with all their mind. So it is all about transferring this great passion – that passionate commitment to the pleasures of paganism – to God.
1. Is there humility?
The first thing I look for is humility, which shows that they don’t feel worthy or that they deserve more. Instead, they should also think about what they have given them. God has entrusted them with the treasure of life and to live for it. One problem with some of the current addiction programs is that some promote living for oneself, even though the addicts have technically “recovered” or “achieved sobriety.” They may no longer do drugs, but they still live for themselves.
I don’t want them clean and sober, but that’s not the end goal. So the ultimate goal is to live for God and become more like Jesus Christ. We have to make them love God—and love God with reckless abandon. Ironically, they did it very well with their favorite pagan medicine. Now they have to do it for Jesus. Many are somewhat committed to God, but not fully committed. They don’t want to spill all their alcohol. So they keep some cache somewhere. Thus, you are helping them to live in a humble way, relying on God.
2. Is there a desire to serve others?
The second part of this passage is “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The addict really loves himself or herself. It might not look like that. It may also seem self-hate. It may sound like self-pity, but even that translates to, “I deserve better than I get.” Thus, you have to bring the addicts out of themselves, and love their neighbors, by finding ways for them to serve.
I find that people who have struggled with addiction have great gifts. They may not be the most organized people. They may not be the people you would choose to be a Bible study teacher. But they can greet people. They can work on different projects, maybe they do outreach or another aspect of the service. If you can make them love others and serve others, that’s a win. The focus does not turn inward as they look at themselves poorly, but they look outward, for whom can I serve? However, they will need forewarning: they will have to fight this temptation to return to self-satisfaction and live for self.
3. Is there a heightened sense of self-responsibility? (Type Addict)
Among these verses, there are three fruits that I really want to see. Also the first is that they are responsible – that they take matters into their own hands all their lives. Usually drinkers often think like victims. They may have fallen victim. But then, they learned to think of life as if it were just a pinball, bouncing around in a pinball machine. So they feel that everyone is hard on them; They’ve been treated badly, from that kind of thing. So thinking about change is out of their control, they don’t take steps to change what’s going on in their lives. I often see this victim mentality, and I want to fight it with one responsibility. When I see someone taking responsibility and not shifting blame, not trying to play the victim card, I know that person is doing just fine.
4. Is there a thank you stand?
Also the next fruit I look for is to be grateful. I find that people who have fallen into addiction tend to have a “woe to me” mentality. However, if all we see is themselves and what they want, then they are missing out on all the blessings that God is giving them. I think that’s a big part of what confuses addicts. So I want to help them develop a grateful heart.
5. Is there a submissive soul? (Type Addict)
Also, the last fruit I am looking for is submission. So fools and rebels may be very intellectually adept, but they live in a way that goes against God’s word. It’s stupid to do that. On the other hand, the wise may not be the most intelligent, but they are obedient and submissive. That’s what I’m looking for. I’m looking for someone who says, “I don’t have all the answers. I can’t do this myself. I need God. I need the church. I need the body of Christ to help me.” These are the things that I really advocate for and listen to.
