Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – Addiction is a state of giving oneself entirely to something; it may or may not involve drugs or alcohol. We need to replace those addictions with God’s Word and His work in our lives, so that we turn wholeheartedly to God and His calling.
Addiction can begin with small things and gradually bind a whole life. Scripture both names sin rightly and shows the way to freedom in Christ. These Bible verses about addiction are helpful for counseling others and for your own walk. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
13 Bible Verses About Addiction
1. “Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. Do everything in love. Now I urge you, brothers, since you know that the household of Stephanas was the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints, to submit to such people and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the arrival of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, because they have supplied what was lacking from you. For they refreshed my spirit and yours as well. Show your appreciation for such men.” (1 Corinthians 16:13–18)
2. “He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:4–5)
3. “Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones You have crushed rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:7–10)
4. “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:22–24)
5. “Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to taste the mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast: “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to look for another drink?”” (Proverbs 23:29–35)
6. “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18–20)
7. “For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:13–16)
8. “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Test and prove what pleases the Lord. Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that is illuminated becomes a light itself. So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” (Ephesians 5:6–17)
9. “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does.” (James 1:21–25)
10. “For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope. Now may the God who gives endurance and encouragement grant you harmony with one another in Christ Jesus, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:4–6)
11. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13)
12. “Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already come.” (2 Thessalonians 2:1–2)
13. “Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” (1 Peter 1:13–16)
Stepping Out of Addiction
Breaking free from addiction is not just a matter of willpower. It takes true repentance, reliance on the Holy Spirit and the companionship of the church. If you are counseling someone, be patient, keep what is shared confidential and set small, concrete steps together.
If you yourself are struggling with an addiction, don’t hide it in the dark. Find a pastor or godly leader to share with and be prayed for. Professional help can also be part of God’s provision for your recovery.
You may also like: Facing Temptation: 6 Things Every Christian Should Know and 5 Ways to Break Bad Habits.
Prayer
Lord, set us free from every addiction that binds us. Give us strength to choose to obey You each day and to live holy lives, as You are holy. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Thoa Trần
Adapted from: WhatChristiansWantToKnow.com
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