“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12, NKJV).

Some people like to tout their freedom in Christ. Paul just got done listing a bunch of sins that people commit that exclude them from the kingdom of heaven. He wasn’t saying they were lawful for him, or us, to do. If they were lawful, they wouldn’t break the law and disqualify us from the kingdom of heaven. When we read all of Paul’s teachings, we know he teaches we are not to sin. He emphatically says we are not to sin. What does this verse show us then? That even things that are lawful to him may not be helpful and need to be controlled so that they don’t control you. An addiction is when you are letting something control you, whether it be social media, entertainment, junk food, or worse. If something is controlling you, that’s wrong.

Could you call yourself an addict of anything? Or anyone call you an addict of anything?  That’s not okay. The thing, in and of itself, may not be wrong. It is not sin to watch a sporting event or to eat a cookie. But when that thing calls to us and we answer, we are being controlled by it instead of by the Spirit. We need to be free from controlling influences in our lives, whether the news, other people, or the things in our homes. We’re to be under the influence of One alone.

If you find that something is able to steer your choices, then you need to take a fast from it to get your flesh back in its place. And you may, or not, ever get back to it. If you do, it needs to be in a different attitude, one that’s ready to say no and walk away if you ever feel it directing your steps, your time, your thoughts. And always be working on renewing your mind. That’s the real battlefield. Fill your mind with God’s Word. Know Him. Know the Truth. The Truth will set you free. And if the Son has set you free, you will be free indeed!