They were addicted to it, the whole family. I am sure their friends and extended family noticed the changes. There were signs. They were not the same people anymore. They seemed to change. The things they once enjoyed, they stopped altogether. All their thoughts and actions were consumed by their addiction. They withdrew themselves from their normal lifestyle. They did all they could to be around the people with the same addiction. They said that, “They were the only ones that understood what they were going through.” They were spending whatever extra money they had for this addiction. They were suffering for this addiction. Society looked down on them and hunted people with the same addiction. This is what the Bible said about this family, “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” (1 Cor. 16:15, KJV).
That is quite an addiction. This addiction changed their lives. They were no longer the same people. “But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness” (Rom. 6:17-18). They could no longer hang out with the same people. “In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you” (1 Pet. 4:4). Their thoughts and actions were consumed by this addiction. “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:1-5).
The addiction this family had was in service to the saints and to Christ, “‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me’” (Matt. 25:39-40). What would you look like if you were addicted to the work of the Lord? What would your family look like? Would people notice your addiction? Paul said of the house of Stephanas that they were helpers, laborers and refreshing both to himself and the Corinthians. True addicts of Christ and His example are a blessing to those around them.