Considering the Bible

Proverbial Thoughts on Alcohol


Proverbs 4 23

Thoughts on the topic of alcohol from the book of wisdom

As many who follow this blog may know, I was a teenage alcoholic and drug user, rescued from a life of drunkenness and waste by the loving sacrifice and grace of the Lord Jesus.
When I became a believer, the addiction/habit/sin fell from me since I had hope and a greater goal in life. When I eventually started reading Proverbs, the verses below made so much sense.
I was a passionate teetotaler, judging all that imbibed. The Bible clearly stated, as I read certain passages, that drinking was sin. It is for me.
In my journeys, there have been gracious believers that have been patient with this ol fool, seeking to instruct me in the finer points of Christian living.
When I drink, I abuse the drink. Some believers drink to the glory of God – no abuse of the bottle, but thankful for the blessing. I can’t understand it, but I also can’t take away the freedom of another believer in an area that is not necessarily sin for them.
With all that said, find a few verses below from the book of wisdom.

Proverbs 20:1

Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome— a staggering drunk is not much fun.

This verse became my linchpin of belief and a club to hammer those who could control their alcohol consumption.

Proverbs 23:19-21

Oh listen, dear child—become wise; point your life in the right direction. Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk; don’t eat too much food and get fat. Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row, in a stupor and dressed in rags.

I glossed over this verse early on in my journey, not reading the “too much” qualifier. My logic was – Why drink at all if the drunkenness is possible? How much is too much? I assumed all had the same weakness I had.

So myopic!

beer drinking

Proverbs 23:29-35

Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beat up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business. Don’t judge wine by its label, or its bouquet, or its full-bodied flavor. Judge it rather by the hangover it leaves you with— the splitting headache, the queasy stomach. Do you really prefer seeing double, with your speech all slurred, Reeling and seasick, drunk as a sailor? “They hit me,” you’ll say, “but it didn’t hurt; they beat on me, but I didn’t feel a thing. When I’m sober enough to manage it, bring me another drink!”

Eventually I came to Proverbs 23 – Wow did this guy know the effects of drinking too much, and the lure of returning to the bottle. So many nights (and days) in my lost state I experienced this contradiction of life.

Whining about my life but returning to the source of my sorry existence. Thank the Lord for His saving of this poor fool.

Proverbs 31:4-7

“Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, Lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong, and the people who depend on them are hurt. Use wine and beer only as sedatives, to kill the pain and dull the ache Of the terminally ill, for whom life is a living death.

Another verse I glossed over when reading as it refers to excess of consumption, and the abuse of the bottle.

Summary

I was delivered from the enslavement from alcohol and drug abuse when I bent the knee in repentance and belief in the Messiah. I am thankful for His mercy in my life. I have found other battles in my life that are overwhelming at times

self control

Both this verse and the passage in Proverbs 23 speak of self control. The lack of self control in drink or food leads to multiple life problems.
These verses describe the lack of self control in the areas of food and drink. What other areas of my life exhibit the lack of self control. Self pity, anger, fear? And yet the believer has a capacity in the Lord, a strength available for self control, that is, the fruit of the Spirit.
Some believers may have to struggle with self control issues with food and drink their entire life.
My heart goes out to them.

Go back

Your message has been sent

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

Share this:

consideringthebibletogether

,
, ,

5 responses to “Proverbial Thoughts on Alcohol”

  1. Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and scriptures. I must confess I hate alcohol and what it does to a person. My ex was an alcoholic and my children and I witness and received the abuse from an alcoholic, he then introduced alcohol to our son at age 10 and my son became an alcoholic. My son is now in sobriety for the past three years. He now lives by his heart-felt wisdom that “life is good sober!” I thank God everyday for setting my son free from the bondage of alcohol.

    Congratulations on your sobriety, that’s quite an achievement. 😊👣

    Like

    Reply

  4. Thank you for sharing your personal experience with addiction and your path of salvation in the Lord! My family was and is very subject to the bottle and so I follow a modified form of your path. It is a journey we must always encourage one another toward moderation and to abstinence as the situation warrants. Blessings!

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to consideringthebibletogether Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.