Supporting Those in Need

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I wanted to take a few minutes this morning to support the need for substance abuse and mental health resources in our area. When we look at our area, we have the highest instance of prescription drug abuse in the state. During the 2012 Drug Abuse Summit, it was stated addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. The user abuses a substance despite knowledge of having a persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance.

Unfortunately, most addiction is mainly dealt with in this area through incarceration. Also, unfortunately there is little to no mental health care support while serving their sentence. According to recent statistics, upwards of 50% of incarcerated individuals suffer from mental health crisis either leading to or as a result of drug abuse and do not receive adequate mental health support during that time. So why don’t we just fix addiction? Because it isn’t just as easy as saying “you’re cured”. There are many complex issues dealing with addiction - genetics, past environment, brain chemistry, and overall mental health impacts all influence a persons ability to cope with addictive behavior. So, addiction is not “cured” as much as “treated”. That’s why it is so important for us to support ministries who invest in the treatment of those facing mental health and addiction crisis.

Why should the church be involved? Because people are hurting.

People are Hurting

Mark 2:17 ESV

17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Too often, our attitudes are the same as the Scribes and Pharisees - we hold those different to us in contempt because they are “below” our standards and discipline. We think they should do better. We think they should be like us. Jesus answered the attitude of society towards the sinner and outcast in this verse. Christ came to show us that there is an enormous hope for every person, regardless of their addiction, sins, or failings. Christ came to address the needs of those in need - the sinner - so they can be re-created IN Christ - made into a new person. While the “religious” of the time questioned Christ’s association with sinners, Jesus response was bunt. A well person needs no physician, but the one who is sick and KNOWS they are sick makes an appointment with the physician. Unfortunately, there are some who are self-righteous and do not know they need repentance but the sinner hears and knows the voice of the Great physician and hears the call to repentance.

So how should we view those with addictions?

Galatians 6:1–2 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Most of those who are incarcerated for drugs differ from us very little. They’ve been caught in their sin and held accountable by the judicial system. If it were not for God, we would still be held accountable for our sin. We should remember, not where we are now, but where God delivered us FROM and think of the love, patience, and kindness shown by Christ to us. While these verses are pointed towards backsliders, I think it can be applied when those who are searching for and desiring recovery. We should approach and treat them in the “spirit of gentleness” - looking to restore them, not condemn them further. We will never improve another persons situation by trying to bring them down or condemning them. Christ came to bear the sins of man for man. We cannot bear another’s sins, but we can help bear the burdens of each other because we all suffer under the weight of sin. If God can forgive us for our sin, then we should be willing to support those looking to better themselves.

People are Looking

Mark 5:25–28 ESV

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

All throughout Christ’s earthly ministry we see people looking for Christ when they had physical needs of healing. But, why didn’t Christ look at them and tell them of their spiritual needs before He would heal them? Because it is hard to minister to the spiritual needs of someone who has physical, emotional, financial, or any other type of need. Sometimes, the best way to show the spiritual need is by addressing the other needs. Christ had cast out the demons from the man in the tomb, had gone to the other side of the sea, and shortly after was summonsed to care for Jarius’ daughter. He had come to Jesus stating his daughter was near death. As Jesus went with Jarius, a crowd formed and in that crowd was a woman. A woman who had suffered from a disease that had been unsuccessful in her treatment for 12 years. She had been bleeding uncontrollably during this time. She could not touch or be touched by anyone else, as she was considered unclean to the Jews. She had been cut off from society, and from religious worship. She was in a desperate place. Everything she had tried had failed. Everyone she was close to had to leave. Everyone she worshiped with was no longer there. But when everything worldly had failed, she was still looking for a solution - and she placed her faith in Jesus. When she touched the hem of His garment, she was healed.

Mark 5:34 ESV

34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

When dealing with addictions, there is already the assumption of desperation. There is already a perceived need for help. But notice they normally will look for all the worldly solutions until they realize they won’t work. Just as with anyone else in sin, they must come to a realization they need Jesus and - by faith - reach out to Him. We shouldn’t be afraid to minister to the needs of those in need, because we hold the answers!

We Hold the Answers

Matthew 11:28 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Christ extends His invitation - come unto me. Notice He doesn’t say “If you have already been saved, if you have got everything worked out, if you are a member of the first baptist church of righteousness”, no, he says all who labor and are heavy laden. There are many things that can drain and burden us - work, worldliness, sin and guilt, finances, “religion” without a relationship, and the list can go on and on. When we look for answers in worldliness, it causes us to become discouraged, exhausted, and burdens us.

Christ says, if you have looked for all the answers and haven’t found the answers but only found more problems, come to Him - and He will give you rest. How do you find this rest? The same as the woman with the blood disorder - place faith in Him. The rest He gives, when we place our faith in Him is the rest of salvation. It is a deliverance from the bondage and baggage of sin. He overcomes the worldly burdens and give a person’s soul rest when their sins are overcome. The answer to rest is coming to Jesus Christ.

The same thing can be seen in addiction, the only way an addict can ever find lasting peace from the problems of the world is to find rest in the salvation found in Jesus Christ. But here is the thing - there are still needs for support physically, spiritually, emotionally - and it should come from the church, from other believers - we should exhibit the same examples as Christ.

Conclusion

We have an awesome opportunity to support a ministry that can support people who are hurting and looking for answers that we have. We can be a partner is showing those in need the rest found in salvation through Jesus Christ. But it is not only addiction Christ can help with - He can see us through all the burdens of life, and there is only one condition. We must simply come to Christ by faith.