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Addiction and Self-Control

CGG Weekly by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

People the world over struggle with a lack of self-discipline, falling prey to various addictions that control their lives. Countless individuals cannot resist the pull of substances like street drugs, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and sugar-laden products, consuming them in excess. Beyond physical dependencies, many lack the discipline to guard their minds against addictions to television shows, video games, and phone apps, becoming hooked on the dopamine-driven rewards these provide. This failure to exercise self-control creates a destructive loop, leading to addiction and its devastating consequences. The Bible highlights the importance of self-discipline, particularly in the context of wine and strong drink, warning against being led astray by excess. Solomon advises in Proverbs 20:1 that wine and strong drink can mock and provoke, and those who succumb are unwise. In Proverbs 23:19-21, he cautions against associating with drunkards and gluttons, as their lack of control leads to poverty and ruin. He further describes the debilitating effects of overindulgence in Proverbs 23:29-35 and warns leaders in Proverbs 31:4-5 that intoxicating drink can impair judgment and pervert justice. The principle of moderation governed by self-control applies to all of God's called-out ones, who must avoid both drunkenness and dependence. Failure to maintain self-discipline in consuming alcohol or similar substances is seen as sin. Paul declares in I Corinthians 6:10 that drunkards will not inherit the Kingdom of God, listing drunkenness among the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:21. God holds individuals responsible for their choices, viewing addictions as the result of repeated sinful decisions toward self-destruction. The solution lies in cultivating self-control, which Paul identifies as a fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, the culmination of efforts to overcome such struggles. Through God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, one must make the difficult choice to resist cravings, endure withdrawal, and set the will against temptation. Paul emphasizes in II Timothy 1:7 that God's Spirit provides power, love, and a sound mind to help overcome addiction. Power strengthens against the pull of dependency, love affirms worth, and a sound mind enables proper decisions. In I Corinthians 6:12, Paul asserts that while all things may be lawful, he will not be brought under the power of any, urging control over mind, body, speech, and behaviors to reflect God's nature and live abundantly. God offers support to those who trust Him and strive to make right choices, helping them build the character needed to master their urges.

Self-Government and Responsibility (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Jacob's Trouble, or the Great Tribulation, comes about because people are not meeting their God-given responsibilities: keeping His Commandments.

Self-Government (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

Regardless of whether one submits to God, government, or community, self-government is the best means to having a safe, smooth course toward an objective.

Lacking Nothing (Part Two)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

Disobedience to God paves the road to scarcity and economic slavery. Moral debasement leads to debasement of currency, which leads to economic enslavement.

Stewardship of God's Temple (Part Five)

Sermon by David F. Maas

Some have foolishly denigrated the value of physical exercise by taking Paul's admonition to Timothy totally and hopelessly out of context.

Stewardship of God's Temple (Part One)

Sermon by David F. Maas

After God's calling, the human body becomes the temple of God's Spirit, a reality which obliges us to care for our bodies because they belong to God.

Maintaining Good Health (Part 9)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Good spiritual health follows the same patterns and laws as do physical and psychological health. Any permanent change in character must come from within.

Flee From Idolatry (Part Two): Faithfulness

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Like a boxer, we must exert ourselves with a broad spectrum of skills to subdue our carnal bodies, mortifying the flesh with maximum self-discipline.

Love's Greatest Challenges

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

An irrational fear of loss prevents the development of agape love — we fear that keeping God's commandments will cause us to lose something valuable.

Enduring as a Good Soldier

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh (1932-2023)

To wage spiritual warfare, we must endure hardship, not entangling ourselves in the affairs of the world, being single-minded in pleasing our Captain.

The Foolishness of Bias

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The wise must not be diverted by fallacies, but must patiently sift through the facts, separating them from inferences and measuring them against the Word.

Intimacy with Christ (Part One)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

We must guard our time, not allowing busyness and involvement with activities of the world to prevent us from forming a deep intimacy with God.

Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen (Part Seven)

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

The letters to the seven churches of Revelation warn of losing our first love, heeding false teachers, compromising God's Truth, and forgetting right doctrine.

Unity (Part 7): Ephesians 4 (D)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Because of our lack of self-discipline and willingness to guard the truth, we have allowed our theological base to deteriorate under the persuasion of the world.