One Good Reason
Views: 38
One good reason why we need to seek help for addicts is that the problem affects the entire family, in ways we can never imagine. In one testimony, a former alcoholic said his parents went their separate ways, and his sisters also went wayward, when he was an alcoholic. Interestingly, the parents came back together and the sisters also straightened up, when he recovered. Everything just fell back in place!
In her 1980 book entitled, “Adult children of alcoholics,” American psychologist Janet Geringer Woititz wrote about some common characteristics she observed in children of alcoholics when they grew up. In her updated edition of that bestseller she re-examined the movement and its inclusion of adult children from various dysfunctional family backgrounds who share the same characteristics, after decades of working with adult children of alcoholics.
Among the characteristics listed are:
- They feel there is something wrong with them
- Have trouble following projects through from beginning to end
- Lie when it would be easy to tell the truth
- Judge themselves without mercy
- Have difficulty having fun
- Have difficulty in intimate relationships
- Over-react to changes over which they have no control
- Feel different from other people
- Are either overly responsible or overly irresponsible
- Extremely loyal, even when being abused
- Lock themselves into courses of action without giving serious consideration to alternative behaviors and possible consequences
Although these characteristics could be found in other situations, they have been observed to have a particular trend in children from alcoholic and other dysfunctional families. These are long term effects on family members that no one wishes to happen, but somehow happens because we think it is only the addict that is affected.
These facts make it more important to avoid and prevent addictions, and also seek help quickly for the ones that are already addicted. It is not just about the addict, but it’s about the sanity of the entire family. This, apart from being very logical and helpful, is also Biblical.
In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he wrote:
God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
1 CORINTHIANS 12: 24-26
The wisdom of this text, written under the title, “One body with many parts,” can be applied to the family unit too. We can never isolate ourselves completely, and cannot hide forever. We all suffer when one member suffers; even to children, and children’s children.
This makes it very important that we seek help early for those who are toppling over in our families.
We need to be one another’s keeper because if one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.
MEMORY VERSE
“If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.”
(1 Corinthians 12:26)
QUESTIONS
- Do you have family members with substance abuse, or addiction issues?
- Do you know it will affect the whole family, unless you seek help?
PRAYER TIP
Father, please help us to take
ownership and seek help for
troubled members of our family.
URGENT CALL
Every soul is valuable to God, far more than the entire world! But by nature, we are all sinful, and alienated from God, and we ultimately face his wrath!
God in His mercy and love made a way for us to remedy this. He gives us a chance to reverse this downward spiral to destruction, join His family, be part of His household, and become His children.
The first step to becoming a member of God’s household is for us to be saved.
Salvation comes through accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Personal Savior.
It is a very personal decision. No one can make that decision for you.
If you make that decision today, there will be great singing and rejoicing in heaven; because one new member has joined the family and household of God! A soul, much, much more valuable than the world, has been saved from destruction!
Do you want to make that decision today?
Please visit “The Believer’s Prayer”
for guidance if you want
to make that decision.
We will be happy to hear from you through the contact information on that page, or the ones at the top of this page. Don’t delay. Make this very personal decision today!
God richly bless you
SPECIAL GRATITUDE
Thank you for visiting the Testimony Devotional Website.
We would not have gotten here without your prayers, goodwill and overall support. We are grateful, and humbled.
We thank God for counting us worthy to share in His Great Commission; and we thank you for sticking with us through this journey.
God richly bless you.
The Testimony Devotional website addresses are: