In the United States, there are several drug education programs which young people can go through to teach them not to take drugs that cause addiction.  They are taught that addiction causes all kinds of problems in a person’s life. It can lead to diseases, pain, suffering, loss of possessions, loss of family and loss of life.

Why does addiction do this?  It is because a person only thinks about what he is addicted to. He constantly thinks about how to get the drug. He constantly thinks about how good it will be to have the drug. He has trouble doing anything unless he has some of the drug. In other words, the drug is the most important thing on his mind.

But there is a good addiction. In 1 Corinthians 16:15 we read, “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints)” (King James Version).  The word “addicted” means to “set one’s mind on” or to “organize one’s mind on.”

It is not wrong to have our minds set on doing good for other Christians. All Christians are members of the family of God. We should constantly be seeing what we can do for each other. We should constantly be thinking about how we can encourage another Christian. We should not feel good unless we have been able to do something good for someone else.

This kind of addiction gets our minds off of ourselves. Instead of thinking about what we want, we are thinking about what others need. Do not get addicted to the wrong things. Set your mind on helping and doing for others. And of course, what we do for others will be centered on what God wants for everyone.

Until next time, get God’s wisdom. Study to find out what God wants for all people. Read to find out what we should be doing for others. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.

If brothers and sisters are younger, you can protect them. And you can help teach them. And you can play with them. Brothers and sisters truly are a blessing from God.

But at times brothers and sisters can get on our nerves. They may get in the way of what we are trying to do. They may accidentally mess up something we are working on. We may want to do something they are doing. We may be jealous of what they get to do.

We are not supposed to think bad things about our brothers and sisters. We are not supposed to treat our brothers and sisters in a bad way. We are supposed to love each other and always treat each other right.

God says that the people in his church are supposed to treat one another just like a family. In Romans 12:10 it says, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.”  How is the world supposed to think good things about the church if the members are always arguing and treating each other badly?

If you are always treating your own brother or sister badly, or if you cannot get along with them, how are others supposed to think you will treat them? They will think you will treat them just like you treat your own brother or sister.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This will tell you what true love (including brotherly love) is like. You need to start living this kind of love toward your own brothers and sisters now. Make this kind of love a habit of your life. Then when you deal with other members of the church, you will know what true brotherly kindness and love are all about. You will treat others just like you treated your brothers and sisters.

Until next time, keep reading and studying your Bible. Get the wisdom of God. Treat your brothers and sisters the way God wants you to. And treat others the way God wants you to. And if any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.