An Addiction Worth Having

1 Corinthians 16:15-18

The word addiction means The act of devoting or giving up in practice; the state of being devoted. The state of being compulsively committed to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. Here in our text tonight we have a similar meaning. The house of Stephanas gave themselves over to the ministry. They were all in, there was no turning back, it was all or nothing.

The house or family of Stephanas had made up their mind that they were going to have nothing to do with the world. If it did not have anything to do with Christ they didn’t want any part of it. If you were to read anything about this set of verses you would not find much about Stephanas and his devotion to Christ and going all in for God. Many say they “set themselves” over the affairs of the Church or set themselves to the ministry of the saints, which both of those are right they did do those things, but how does one become “addicted” to the ministry? I believe you first must become addicted to Christ, and all these other things are a result of the addiction. You will care about the Church, you will care about the Saints in the church, you will care for the Pastors of the Church.

Are you addicted to Christ?

Do you have an addiction worth having?

1. An addiction will change your Family v.15-16

In the first chapter of this letter to the Corinthians, we read that Paul himself states that he baptized the house of Stephanas. 1Cor.1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. Not just Stephanas, but his whole house.

I believe Stephanas, who according to the Lexham Bible dictionary was a Gentile, got gloriously born again and he told everyone he knew. He wanted his family to have the same thing he had. When you get saved, it will have an impact on those around you. Just like someone who is addicted to drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, etc. An addiction will change your family.

a. It will Change your family's Attitude v.15-16

Ask any one that has or has had an addiction if the addiction changed their families attitude on life or things in general and im sure you would have an overwhelming YES. One persons addiction will change everyone’s attitude.

Stephanas became addicted to Christ, he was no longer addicted to the pleasures of life, he no longer had a desire for the things of Rome. It changed his entire families attitude. It was no longer about Roman traditions or immoral activites. An Addiction to a religion or a society will become a burden. But when Stephanas became a follower of Christ and he told his family about it, and got born again, the burden of a religious and social addiction was lifted their attitude changed about life.

Think about the Maniac, his family’s attitude was one of embarrassment and grief. His kids may have even lied when asked who their dad was. but after his encounter with Christ, I believe that when he went back home, he was a changed man and his family’s attitude toward him and life changed. What about the woman at the well? Or blind Bartumaeus? For all of these folks, their addiction to Christ became their motivation. Their old addiction was nothing more than a burden.

Not only will it change your family’s attitude

b. It will change your family's Outcome v.15-16

Think about it. If the head of the house has an addiction, the outcome for that family is not good. Most troubled youth come from a broken home. The home most likely became broken because of an addiction.

The outcome for the house of Stephanas before his salvation did not look good. They were Gentiles living in a very immoral society. Before the conversion of Stephanas his eternal outcome was very dark, but after salvation he had an outcome that he wanted to share with his entire family. Before salvation , he was addicted to the things of the world after salvation he was addicted to Christ.

1 John 2:15-16 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

v17 and the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The house of Stephanas did not have much to look forward to before their salvation . Their attitude was wrong and their outlook was grim, but when their addiction was changed from the world to Christ, their attitude and outlook changed with it.

Is your addiction a burden or a motivation?

Is your family’s outcome going to be positive or negitive?

Do you have an addiction worth having?

1. Not only will an addiction change your family

2. An addiction will consume your Finances v.17

Any addict will tell you that over half of their finances are taken up by the addiction they have. According to drugabuse.org someone that has an addiction to heroin, could easily spend 10,000 dollars a year if they are low income. The more money they make the more they spend on the addiction.

a. It will consume your Financial Responsibilities

One commentator says that it is possible that Stephanas was of high standing with in Corinth before and after his conversion. It is a good possibility Fortunatus and Achaicus were his servants. so I believe it would be OK to say this man had lots of Financial responsibilities. He had servants , a family, a house , probably owned a business. He had many things to be responsible for financially . Yet we find him here in verse 17 bringing much needed supplies to Paul. Before salvation Stephanas would never have thought about going to help out some poor old preacher that had gotten himself looked up but here he is. His responsibilities changed . When he became addicted to Christ , his worldly responsibility became second to his heavenly ones.

The rich man in Mark 10 is a prime example of being addicted to the wrong thing,

Mark 10:17–22 KJV 1900

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

b. It will consume your Financial Priorities

An addict sets his Financial Priorities based on his next fix. If he or she has to choose between eating or fulfilling the addiction , almost always the addiction will take top priority.

When a man or woman gets saved, buying the next biggest toy or going on there next big vacation goes from first to last priority. Giving to the church now becomes their main focus.

1 Timothy 6:10 KJV 1900

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Acts 5:1–5 KJV 1900

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Your Responsibilities will always line up with your priorities. Where ever your addiction lies, so will your financial priority and responsibility .

This would be a good time to do a self evaluation. Where does your money go?

Do you tithe first and pay bills second?

When an evangelist is in, do you give in the love offering?

What has control of your finances?

Addiction will change your family

addiction will consume your finances

3. An addiction will control your Facilities

I'm not talking about faculties like teachers in a school, I'm talking about your facilities; i.e. mind, body and spirit. If you or someone you know has ever been addicted to drugs or alcohol, you know what I am talking about. An addiction will control everything about your body. Most addicts lose control of their minds and bodies when high or when going through withdraws.

Listen to this definition of the word faculties 1.That power of the mind or intellect which enables it to receive, revive or modify perceptions; as the faculty of seeing, of hearing, of imagining, of remembering, etc.: or in general, the faculties may be called the powers or capacities of the mind.

2. The power of doing any thing; ability. There is no faculty or power in creatures, which can rightly perform its functions, without the perpetual aid of the Supreme Being.

The House of Stephanas became so addicted that the addiction controlled them. The ministry was all they could think about. When they were with Paul, all they could talk about was the ministry.

a. It will control how you Think

Before salvation Stephanas most likely thought just like any other person who lived in an immoral society. I am almost positive Church was not on his mind. Do you remember things you thought about before God saved you? Some of us in here have the unfortunate ability to still remember things we have been saved from , but that's all we use to think about, now I think about spiritual things .

Gal.6:3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

Now , when you become addicted to the right thing, your thinking changes

Phil. 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Not only will your thinking be controlled by your addiction

b. It will control how you Act

Again , the woman at the well. Before she met Christ her actions were very unbecoming of a lady. But after salvation her actions changed . Her new found addiction resulted in her acting differently . Instead of going back and looking for her next client she went back and told all her old clients , “come see a man” she acted different and they all noticed. you can always tell when an addict is going through withdraws, they don't act the same way. What about Hanna at the temple when she was in sorrow and prayed for a man child. Eli thought she was drunk, but she said she was not drunk she was pouring her soul out to the Lord. Then the Lord remembered her and she brought forth a man child and called him Samuel. Then what did she do? she was so addicted to God and his work that she wanted her only son to be given over to God. It cost her son and it cost her financially. Every year she brought him a new coat. You see where ever your heart is so is your addiction. We become addicted to the things we love. You could say God is addicted to us because he gave up his only begotten son for us.

2Cor. 5:17 If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things are become new.

In closing , what are you addicted to ?

What controls you?

What consumes your finances ?

Has your addiction motivated or burdened your family?

Conclusion

An addiction can be a bad thing but if you are addicted to the right thing it can change your entire life. You must become addicted to Christ if you are going to have any chance of making it through this world. You may be here tonight thinking I have an addiction but it isn't to Christ . what can I do to have an addiction to Christ?

First and foremost you must first Run to Christ and be saved. The bible tells us , for whosoever calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

if thou confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hast raised Him from the dead thou shat be saved

For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Then you must remain at his feet until your will becomes his will.

When you taste of the living water you wont wont anything else.

When you have an Addiction worth having, nothing else matters.