Who Has Woe? Who Has Sorrow? Who Has Strife? Who Has Complaints? Who Has Needless Bruises? Who Has Bloodshot Eyes? Those Who Linger Over Wine

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Who Has Woe? Who Has Sorrow? Who Has Strife? Who Has Complaints?
Who Has Needless Bruises? Who Has Bloodshot Eyes?
Those Who Linger Over Wine

Nobody ever starts out saying that they want to be a drunk. Or to say it a bit more nicely nobody ever starts drinking, or doing drugs, with plans on being an alcoholic or a drug addict. Social drinking and so called recreational drugs can quickly turn into something very unsocial and totally destructive for you and for me and for our families. Let me suggest we think about these verses as we consider drinking, drugging, sexual immorality, or being a glutton.

Scripture

Proverbs 23

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaints?
    Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰ Those who linger over wine,
    who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
³¹ Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup,
    when it goes down smoothly!
³² In the end it bites like a snake
    and poisons like a viper.
³³ Your eyes will see strange sights,
    and your mind will imagine confusing things.
³⁴ You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
    lying on top of the rigging.
³⁵ “They hit me,” you will say, “but I’m not hurt!
    They beat me, but I don’t feel it!
When will I wake up
    so I can find another drink?”

Observation

Nobody ever starts out saying that they want to be a drunk. Or to say it a bit more nicely nobody ever starts drinking, or doing drugs, with plans on being an alcoholic or a drug addict.

Social drinking and so called recreational drugs can quickly turn into something very unsocial and totally destructive for you and for me and for our families.

I get calls from distressed church members desperately pleading for help when a social drinker is out of control and is destroying his or her family because they cannot control their drinking anymore.

If you want to drink alcohol and you want to defend the practice using Bible verses then you can certainly do that. Even though that first drink may not be a sin, you and I don’t know if and when we will cross over the line and be under the influence of what we are drinking or taking.

Let me suggest we think about these verses as we consider drinking, drugging, sexual immorality, or being a glutton.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. ¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:17-18

I have found for my life that a good indicator of whether I should do or not do something is by asking myself this question, 

“Will what I am doing or getting ready to do bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ?” Will what I am doing or what I am thinking about doing make God smile? 

Application

I will continue to try to help people who are destroying themselves and those around them with their addictions. How about you?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I know how easy it is for me to yield myself to things that are not good for my family or me. Help me to do the things that bring You glory and honor and help me to let go of anything that disappoints You. You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Nothing is too hard for You. If someone is reading this blog and is struggling in the area of alcohol, drugs, sex, or over eating give them the strength to say “no”. Help them to live their lives in a way that makes You smile.  

Daily Bible Reading:  Matthew 14,15,16; Proverbs 23



Today’s "Life Journal" Daily Bible Reading can be found on Line. Click Here!