The Cause and Subtlety of Addiction

What are the causes of addiction and how can we know if we are addicted?

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In John 8:34, Jesus states, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” This profound declaration encapsulates addiction—not merely as a behavioral or chemical dependency but as spiritual enslavement. Consider Solomon, renowned for his wisdom, wealth, and power. Despite these blessings, Solomon’s heart turned from God in his later years as he pursued unchecked desires. First Kings 11:4-6 recounts, “For when Solomon was old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done.”

Despite unparalleled wisdom, Solomon’s indulgence in idolatry and worldly pleasures reveals how addiction—whether to power, wealth, or other desires—can entangle even the wisest. His life serves as a cautionary tale: how easily can we rationalize harmful behaviors as harmless, only to find ourselves ensnared? Are we too blind to recognize addiction in our own lives? What spiritual roots allow addiction to flourish?