ADDICTION

“A Pennsylvania hospital has launched the first ever hospital-based treatment center for people who are so addicted to using the Internet they are unable to bring the addiction under control by themselves,” reports Leonardo Blair of the CP:

“The Bradford Regional Medical Center … announced earlier this month that they had launched the Internet addiction treatment and recovery program as part of the hospital’s Behavioral Health Services Division. … The intensive program targeting adults 18 and older is administered over a 10-day period under the care of a multidisciplinary medical team. … According to the release, Internet addiction is now an epidemic and a public health crisis in countries like China, Korea and Taiwan. It was only recently recognized as a problem in the United States. Internet Gaming Disorder was included in Section 3 of the bible of American psychiatric medicine in May of 2013.”

Sometimes helpful things can cross a line and actually become detrimental things. The Internet is a wonderful tool. When it is used for its intended purpose, it enhances our lives. However, when it becomes our obsession, or used in a sinful way (as in the case with pornography) it does more harm than good; it robs us of a real life – it is sin.

Have you crossed that line with any of the good things in your life? Some cross it with food, others with prescription drugs, sex, or some recreational activity. Ironically, it is the good and the helpful things in our lives that many times pose us the greatest danger. “All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify” (1 Cor. 10:23). Of course, the apostle Paul does not mean that anything is lawful for him to do; rather, he is saying that things which are not wrong of themselves he has the right to do. He has identified many things in his inspired writings which are wrong in any circumstance (cf. Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). But some lawful things are not expedient. Some things can become an obsession with us and lead to sin, causing us to lose our proper priorities.

The only thing that we can fix our hearts on without regret is God. When He becomes the object of our unchecked devotion, our lives are enhanced in every way. “But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mt. 6:33). Unchecked devotion, my friends, to anything other than God is called idolatry.

Have you turned a helpful thing into an idol?

“And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body go into hell” (Mt. 5:29-30).

Think About It!

Have A Great Day!

Tom Moore
Park Heights church of Christ
P. O. Box 107
1300 East Boynton Street
Hamilton, Texas 76531
http://www.parkheightscoc.com
http://harrisandmoore.org
https://fromthepreacherspc.org/
http://www.syfirst.org
http://preachersfiles.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/list/preacherspc/

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and sings it back to you when you have forgotten how it goes.”