When you guard your valuables, but some of them are taken for resale anyway, what can you do to impress upon a person that this should not be done? Methods of discipline are mentioned in the Bible.
Discuss with words (Proverbs 1)
With some, this is all it takes. A frank, loving discussion of the awful acts of theft and being under the control of substances will be accepted early on by some addicts. Counselors, doctors and special family members can be brought into the discussion to help lead to desirable changes.
Offering help (Proverbs 16:9)
I realize there can be a negative teaching in this passage by encouraging bribery. However, by giving gifts, we can become friends with a person. Taking away the challenge of stealing from you by an offer, “I know what has happened, and this doesn’t matter with me so long as you will let me help you now.” As a result, an addict may develop humility in the heart by this type of discipline. Mean it when you say it! He may even help you get back an heirloom that hurts your heart because it was taken. By only looking the other way, no change will occur.
What If There Is No Change in the Addict?
What have you lost in talking about it or insisting that changes be made? What have you lost by being a better guardian of your valuables, which are not respected and will otherwise be used by the addict for quick money for drugs, alcohol or mannerisms on the computer that become addictive for the family member (Luke 14)?
By trying, we may succeed, and it can never be said that we didn’t try to help the change to take place. After all, you did not nag the person into that way of life (Proverbs 29:1). Neither did you enter into the habits and enable them to go deeper into the addiction.
Most of the time, this depth of addiction is a violation of the law of the land as well, and arrest, trials and placement into jail may occur. Without the changes brought about by good teaching and discipline, even time spent in confinement will do little good in bringing about changes in the lifestyle of the eventually pardoned or freed person. The love of God must be accepted for changes to begin (1 John 4:4) since God is involved, which is greater than the spirit of the world. Remember there is a judgment after death (Hebrews 9:27).
[Editor’s Note: Few families are spared from at least one member becoming overwhelmed with sin of some type, perhaps even to the point of addiction. In addition, every community in which God’s people assemble has within it persons whose various sinful addictions separate them from God, and Christians need to be ready to attempt to rescue these souls as well as the souls of others among the lost who may more nearly mirror what we see in ourselves. The Gospel is for all, and we Christians are charged with the responsibility of proclaiming it widely. Finally, talking is a place to begin, but true addicts usually need professional help that also addresses physiological (medical) and psychological issues. ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]
