RU Addicted?

Our newest ministry was launched this past Friday. It is called Reformers Unanimous and is a Recovery Program for those who suffer with addictions or addictive behavior. We are off to a great start and I am thankful for all the workers involved and for the ones who came for help with their addictions.

I think most of us don’t really understand addictions. We think it is something that involves someone else and that whatever we struggle with is “not so bad”.

A survey was conducted not too long ago that tried to discover what the worst addictions were in America. Have you seen the list? I want to give you the list of the Top Ten Addictions in the USA. Do you understand the definition of an addiction? An addiction can be defined as “an appetite on a binge”. In the dictionary, one of the illustrations is “addicted to reading”! Unfortunately, that’s NOT one of the Top Ten.
Here they are:

• 10 -  TV – The average person in America watches 35 hours of TV a week! That’s almost equivalent to a full time job! The average child under the age of 18 watches an average of 4 hours of TV per day. NO WONDER they don’t get their homework done!

Various Prescription and Street Drugs

• 9 – Gambling – We all know it can be addictive, and now we know that it is one of the TOP TEN addictions in America. AND, our state governments try to get our money by means of state-sponsored gambling!
  
• 8 – Prescription Drugs – And you wonder why we have almost an epidemic of robberies taking place and teenagers selling drugs out of their parents’ medicine cabinets. 
• 7 – Street Drugs – I believe statistics would show that a great deal of the crime in America involves “street drugs” or “illegal drugs”. 
• 6 – Alcohol – and we permit advertisements of this addictive substance on TV where children average watching 4 hours a day. The fact is that alcohol is a killer! It can kill you by the diseases it can cause and it can kill others when you drive under the influence or behave under the influence of alcohol.
• 5 – Pornography – This has become one of the most destructive addictions ever. It destroys marriages, it degrades women,and  it causes lust and perverse behavior. The problem with pornography, like most addictions, is that what you start with is not enough after a while. You begin to want more and more and it becomes worse and worse. 
• 4 – Tobacco – Even with all of the medical information about smoking and chewing,  this addiction is still #4.  
• 3 – Greasy Foods – Now we’re getting a little too close to home! We eat a lot of “greasy food” and most of it comes, it seems to me, from “Dollar Menus” or variations of this at “Fat Food” – oops, I mean “Fast Food” restaurants. 
• 2 – Caffeine – (When I heard this, I thought, “I’m thankful I drink mostly decaf!”) Whether it’s the Senior Coffee at McDonalds, the expensive coffee at “Big Bucks” or Starbucks, or the Iced Coffees in the summer, or Coke and Pepsi, caffeine is big #2.  
• 1 – Sugar – (How disappointing…and convicting!) Okay, so I drink Decaf, but with 8 sugars! Okay, so I eat oatmeal or Cheerios to battle with Cholesterol, but I use half a cup of sugar to make it taste good! Sugar!

Well, those are the Top Ten Addictions, so we are told, in America. That being the case, it is possible that 90% of our church needs to be in the RU program!

Our text is found in 1 Corinthians 16. The writer has been dealing with problems in this book and, as he gets to the end, he offers some challenges to the readers. “13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” This is a strong, almost militant, appeal to the readers. But, he says, it needs to be tempered with love. “14 Let all your things be done with charity.” That’s the balance we need in our lives, too!

In verse 15, he begins a stronger appeal. He says, “15 I beseech you, brethren,” or, “I beg you, brother Christians”. Now, skip the parenthesis section, and look at verse 16. He says, “15 I beseech you, brethren…16 That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”

Well, this doesn’t make a lot of sense until we read the parenthetical section and see a reference to the ones to whom they are to submit. “15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas,” As he is challenging these Christians to “stand fast in the faith”, and to do it “with charity”, he thinks of Stephanas and his family. He knew that all the original readers of this letter would know him, so he says, “(ye know the house of Stephanas”. Then, he mentions two things about him and his family. First, “15…that it is the firstfruits of Achaia,” This means that they were among the first one saved in that area. But his real interest is about their lifestyle. He says, “15…and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”

Now isn’t that an interesting way to describe a man and his family? They were “addicted” to serving others AND they had become “addicted” willingly! They had “addicted themselves to the ministry…”

I believe this is what God wants in Christians today! Addictions are not bad, it the addictions are to the right things! I want us to consider the kind of addiction that Stephanas and his family had, as mentioned here in 1 Corinthians 16. He was addicted to the ministry. Let me share with you what that means. First,

1. He was a Saved Man. I believe there are people who become very religious thinking they are pleasing God and, even though they are sincere, some of them are not saved. The writer here identifies Stephanas and his family as “the firstfruits of Achaia”. This refers to the fact that his family members were some of the first one to be saved when Paul first ministered in Achaia. Before I move on, let me be sure you understand what I mean when I say that he was a saved man. We find the answer to this in Romans 10. The writer is expressing his heart’s desire for his people, the Jews, when he writes, “1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Understand, they were religious but they were not saved. “2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” Here is what had happened. They had followed religion and believed in God, but they thought they had to “do something” or live a certain way in order to be accepted by God. “3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Let me explain something; MOST RELIGIONS teach that “good works” are part of “earning salvation”. Here we learn that our “righteousness” is NOT ENOUGH. Our good works ARE NOT enough. Here is why: “4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” When Jesus Christ died, He abolished the need to keep the Old Testament Law. Instead, salvation is offered to those who “believe”. Skip down, please, to verse 8, where this is explained. “8 But what saith it?” This is the explanation. “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;” Now, he explains the message that he preached. “9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” You see, this is how we are saved. He goes on to further explain. “10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” What we believe in our hearts, that is, what we truly believe, we confess with our mouth. “11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” When I really believe that Jesus died on the cross for me and paid the penalty for my sins, I’m not ashamed; I want to share that good news! AND, this plan of salvation is the same for everyone! Paul was referring to the Jews, as we read in verse 1, but the way to be saved is the same for everyone. “12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” So, how do I do this? How to I show that I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior? Verse 13 makes it clear; “13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Now, before any of us can become “addicted to the ministry”, we must first be saved. Stephanas and his family were saved. In our Scripture text in 1 Corinthians 16, we learn something else about this man;
2. He was a Serving Man. 1 Corinthians 16:15 says, “15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)” I love Christians like this! The word “ministry” is translated from the Greek word diakonia. It is from the same word that is translated deacon in other places. The word literally means “serving”. We could read this verse like this: You know Stephanas and his family; they have addicted themselves to serving other Christians. What a wonderful attitude! Even though they were probably the first ones saved in that church, and may have helped Paul start the church, and probably were “Charter Members” of that church, they didn’t think of themselves as any better than anyone else. In fact, they considered themselves “servants”. What do you think they would do when someone in the church was sick? They would “minister” to them; they would visit them or, today, they might call them. They might take them some food or offer to get groceries or medicine for them. What about when someone was going through a hard time emotionally or financially? They would do whatever they could to help them. In fact, that is probably why Stephanas is on the mind of the writer. Apparently, the church had learned of some of his needs and had taken an offering for him. Stephanas and a couple of other men took the time and effort to take it to Paul. Look at this in verse 17; “17 I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus: for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.” Actually, not only had they taken what the others had given to Paul, they realized that it wasn’t enough, so they “pitched in” and supplied “that which was lacking”. This church has some people like that. I remember several years ago when a thief got into my office and stole money from me. When I told the story, I mentioned how much he had stolen from me. We never did find the thief, but someone anonymously gave me the exact amount that had been stolen from me! They “supplied what was lacking”! One of our single ladies called recently and told me that her lawn mower was broken. One of our men who lived close by went over and mowed her lawn. He “supplied what was lacking”. I BELIEVE each of us can be this kind of Christian IF WE WANT TO BE. Stephanas was a serving man, and he was willing to serve those in need. Here is what I challenge you to do. Every day, ask God to show you someone who has a need you can meet. The need may  be very small or it might be big, but each of us has something we can give to help others, IF WE LET GOD SHOW US THE OPPORTUNITIES.   We need to be serving Christians and we need to do it in the areas that are best suited to us. Stephanus was addicted to the ministry. Notice something else about this man and his family;
3. He was a Sincere Man. Here is what I mean. Stephanas had apparently been serving the Lord quite some time. He was a man whose work was known to everyone. All too often, I see Christians that jump into a ministry with a great deal of enthusiasm, but it only lasts for a few weeks or months. I love to see men and women who are sincere and get involved for the “long haul”. When I think of this, I can’t help but think of some of the people involved in our Bus Ministry. David Gillespie and Pat Smith have both been Bus Captains for many years. I think of Bro. Friedel and Bro. Massotti who drive the buses so faithfully each week. Those people are sincere about their ministries and are in them for the “long haul”. I think of some of our Sunday School teacher who are now teaching the children of some of those who were in their classes many years ago. They are faithful and sincere about their ministries. Now, I’m not saying that you can never quit a ministry or change ministries, but it is a wonderful blessing to have people who, like Stephanas and many in our church, are sincere about serving the Lord. I read an astounding statistic some time ago that said the average worker in a church ministry only serves about seven years. Where is the commitment? Where is the servant’s heart? Where is the sincerity? Stephanas was a great encouragement to Paul. Did you see that in verse 18? “18 For they (the men mentioned in verse 17, including Stephanas) have refreshed my spirit and yours…” This man wasn’t a fake; he wasn’t a ‘short termer”; he wasn’t jumping from one church to another; Stephanas was “addicted to the ministry”! Notice one other thought;
4. He was a Soul-conscious Man. By this, I mean he was concerned about the souls of other people; he was concerned that others understand their need of salvation and that they be saved. Let me tell you why I believe this is so. We first meet Stephanas in 1 Corinthians 1:16. The Apostle Paul mentions him and his family as people he’d baptized. “16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.” Paul continues, however, and says that his main message was salvation through Jesus Christ. “17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” By the way, those who want to teach that being baptized is necessary in order to be saved would have had a problem with the ministries of Jesus Christ, Who baptized no one, and the greatest Missionary who ever lived, Paul, who baptized very few! Stephanas must have loved the preaching and the message of Paul, because he “addicted himself to the ministry”. And, here is the message Paul preached; “18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Paul’s main message was about the cross of Jesus Christ and being saved. I find it difficult to believe that Stephanas never spoke to anyone else about Christ and about salvation. I imagine he was always looking for “Divine Appointments” that were “set up” by God. He was always looking for opportunities to tell others what Jesus Christ had done in his life. He was looking for opportunities to explain the meaning of being saved. Stephanas was “addicted to the ministry…”

Conclusion – Now, let me ask you to consider your own life and the things that are most important to you. Is it possible that you are “addicted” to something that is not really very important? How much time to you spend watching TV or on the Internet? How much of your life does this involve? How much time do you spend following your favorite sports team? What are you neglecting when you spend time this way?

I AM NOT saying that everyone needs to attend our Addiction Program, but I am saying that some need to trade their “addiction” to unimportant things and make your “addiction” to those things that are important.

If you are saved, take a look at your priorities. What is it that consumes your “spare” time? Is there any eternal value in it, or is it just a “time waster”? Benjamin Franklin is said to have asked this searching question. “Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that’s the stuff life is made of.”

If you are not saved, take a look at the future. You are facing the judgment of God for your sins. Even if you are very religious, that is not enough. You need to be saved and let the blood of Jesus Christ pay the penalty for your sins.

ADDICTION is a scary word, UNLESS you are “addicted to the ministry”.

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