I Corinthians 16:15 & 16 says, “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.) That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”
Here we have a picture of some early Christians that ministered to the “saints” to the point that it became an addiction to them. They played a supportive role in the church. The “house” of Stephanas was actually a small church congregation. It was planted by Paul in the land of Achaia, in the city of Corinth. This little group caught a vision of how they best could spread the gospel. They were mission-minded. They financially supported Paul. In Acts 18, we see that Paul had spent one and a half years starting this little church.
In I Corinthians 1:2, Paul calls them sanctified saints. They had their problems, which can be seen by reading both letters that Paul wrote to them. Their outstanding good point is that they were spiritual addicts. They found the joy of supporting Paul’s ministry. We often look at addictions as negative. Many struggle with the addiction to alcohol. Paul said, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” (Ephesians 5:18). As the drunkard is filled with alcohol, we are to be filled with the Spirit. Some would call this fanatical.
It is a wonderful thing to find our spiritual addiction. I have a friend right now who wants God to give him a specific ministry that he can pour himself into. I am reminded of my own mother who found her calling in teaching first graders to read. Through tragedy in her own life, she found joy in setting young minds on a right course for their lives.
Are you spiritually addicted? Would you dare to be? This addiction comes from being intoxicated with the Holy Ghost. This is not just the Holy Ghost bearing witness with our spirit that we are sons of God. It is a filling of the Holy Spirit in us that overflows in service and love to others. It is a filling that sees the lost souls around us going to hell, breaks our heart, and compels us to love them enough to tell them about Jesus.
I had an old pear tree in my backyard that the grandkids liked to climb in. It had not been cared for. Watering the lawn around it made it bear fruit that dropped to the ground. When I picked up the rotten pears from the ground, I had to compete with the wasps that loved the fruit. They would eat their way inside the skin of the pear and clean out the juicy pulp, leaving an empty shell. They would become so drunk on sugar that I could pick up a wasp-covered pear without them knowing it. They were as addicted as a passed-out drunk.
When we become addicted to a ministry, our life changes. The world sees us as not worth much, but we hardly notice. Persecution comes and Jesus brings us through it. We know that we have a part in the spreading of the gospel. Others see our joy and jump in with us. Pretty soon the whole house, or church, becomes addicted. Paul said, “I beseech you brethren…submit yourselves to such…”
The call is for us to find what the Holy Spirit wants us to do and fall in love with His will. Dive in wholeheartedly. Become a spiritual addict.
