They Have Addicted Themselves To The Ministry Of The Saints

1Co 16:13  Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 

1Co 16:14  Let all your things be done with charity. 

1Co 16:15  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,) 

1Co 16:16  That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth. 

Oftentimes, the word “addiction” carries with it a negative application with the meaning that someone has a ‘bad habit’ that is very difficult to lose. And whether it is a shopping addiction, gambling, alcohol, drugs, or any other thing that we today call an ‘addiction,’ those are things that are hearts ‘fell in love with’ for so long, that we do not know how to ‘let it go.’ However, this meaning of being “addicted” has an godly and “perfect” definition about it that many do not comprehend this word being used here in verse 15. Paul’s viewpoint of these faithful Saints was that they were not only “strong” in the faith, but that they would also “stands fast,” and be not “moved away” from the faith. And Paul knows this godly “addiction” will not be ‘let go’ by those who have become “addicted” by the ministry of the Saints.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 

Php 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 

Php 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; 

Php 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. 

Php 2:17  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 

Php 2:18  For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. 

Therefore, the ‘controlling power ‘of how we define the word ‘addiction’ holds a similar meaning unto it as we see in God’s Word of truth. And being ‘under’ its power is what comes to mind when we hear the word addicted, but when someone we love becomes addicted, it has an effect upon us, because we know that something now has ‘control’ over their life. Our Father desires that we ALSO “know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.” Their ‘addiction’ eventually had an effect upon those Corinthians, just like Paul and the faithful could also glory in their selfless love for the Ministry of the Saints. And as we see in Philippians 2:15-18, their “sacrifice and service” of faithfulness had an effect on Paul to “rejoice” as they were not under the power of this world, these “sons of God” by their selfless “sacrifice” of love now ‘stood out’ from others who do not understand that they are “addicted” to this world.

Php 2:30  Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. 

1Th 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 

1Th 1:6  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 

1Th 1:7  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 

1Th 1:8  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 

Furthermore, the Saint does not fully understand that he is addicted to this world until he ‘enlarges his heart’ unto the “things that be of God.” In Romans 12:9, Paul says to “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” Our love ought to ‘simulate’ God’s selfless love, and we ought to “learn” to love what our Father says is His “good,” and “cleave to that,” and to “abhor” the things that our Father abhors of this world and ‘distance ourselves’ from those things we loved, and now cleave unto His Power and ‘goodness.’ Also, in Romans 12:2, Paul says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” We oftentimes do not know that we are “conformed to this world,” and whether we acknowledge it or not; to be conformed to something, has the meaning that not only do we belong to it, but that we are ‘in its likeness.’

2Ti 2:1  Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 

2Ti 2:2  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 

2Ti 2:3  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

2Ti 2:4  No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 

Moreover, being addicted to something, and being conformed to something, involves your heart, we are taught to be “transformed by the renewing” of our minds by His Word and His Will, and that we can be “conformed to the Image of His Son.” This also involves our hearts, as we are told in Romans 6:17, those who desire to be “addicted” unto the ministry, and desire to be “conformed to the Image of His Son,” they have “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered” unto them. They have ‘exposed’ this world, and it’s ‘evil,’ they now see the things that be of God. They no longer desire to ‘entangle’ themselves with the “affairs of this life,” nor do they desire to be “under” it’s influence, these “sons” choose to “please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” of Christ. And the more he becomes “transformed by the renewing” of his mind, he too will become “addicted” unto the Ministry of His Father because he now operates upon His selfless Love, and he is “under” the “obedience” of his Father as His servant, not under the obedience of this world as it’s servant.

Rom 6:15  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 

Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 

Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

Rom 6:18  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 

Rom 6:19  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Rod Jones