Proverbs 23: King James Bible
Alcohol Woes – Daily Devotion of Proverbs chapter twenty three, Verses 29-35
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. 33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. 34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. 35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Daily Inspiration from These Verses – Alcohol Woes
Next day regrets, bar fights, waking up in the cooling tank, spending the day hugging a toilet, and bad tattoos, can all be avoided by following the advice the Lord gives us up above. Now that we’ve taken care of the cliches, let’s peer a bit deeper into what we’re being advised against.
I’d like to make it clear, that the verses above are not talking about consuming wine or strong drink moderately. If it were, we’d have to accuse Jesus of not only being a lush, but also promoting this problem by turning the water into wine. It’s talking about allowing yourself to be deceived by it, and eventually controlled by it, causing you to fall into a world of sin and iniquity.
There is always a reason to go out and have a drink or two or twelve. Some people need a drink because of the awful day they’ve had. Others go off drinking because they need to celebrate. Then there’s folks that find every reason between those two extremes to crack open a bottle, or only drink during days that end with a “y” at the end of it.
Things that are destructive to you spiritually, physically, financially, or mentally, don’t often discriminate between good days and bad days in order to partake in them. Whatever the day brings, there’s going to be an excuse to do it, because it’s what the flesh wants as in the case above, a false comfort from a bottle.
Do you know what people that hit the drink are not expecting or looking for? The Lord tells us above: woe, sorrow, contentions, babbling, wounds without cause, and redness of eyes. Nobody in their right mind wants to go out of their way in order to find these things, right? Then why do so many people do it?
It is tempting, seductive, and in some circumstances attractive. Sometimes one may feel that it’s just a good idea, or fitting. Sin usually seems like a good idea at the time, or tends to wear a cloak of innocence.
And on the surface, there really isn’t anything wrong with it. But where’s your heart concerning this? What’s the heart telling you to either do or avoid? Who’s in control, because if it’s the flesh, look out!
As we discussed in the previous message (here), we are being spied on, watched, and constantly observed, by creatures that are for certain not our friends, just looking for that crack in the armor to exploit. There are always unseen eyes lurking in the shadows, hoping to be there for you to lose control, so that they may gain it.
Keep that in mind should you be tempted with drink.
Related New Testament Scripture
Luke 21: King James Bible
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
Romans 13: King James Bible
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
1 Corinthians 6: King James Bible
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5: King James Bible
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Prayer
Father,
Thank you for your stern warnings against all of the evil that can befall us by way of consumption. Give us the strength, wisdom, and resolve, to either abstain from alcohol or any behavior or mind altering substance, or to safely consume drink in your intended circumstances. Let your will be done with us concerning this, and may we stay free from doing anything that will come back to bite us later. For those who are addicted to these things, please bind and dash to dust the entities that are keeping them so, and making it difficult to have that yoke removed from their shoulders. Please set them free, and may they be free indeed! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray.
Amen
Question
Have you ever caused yourself to suffer at the hands of alcoholic woes?
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Thanks Brian…well, this is the picture of most of the retirees here in this country i.e. addicted to the bottle. That’s why I don’t associate with anyone here; I prefer spending my days with my family, on our 5 acre farm. I have my family, my weights, sanbags, weight vests, books, dvds etc. I have never found spending time in these bars to be productive, not in the least. I may occasionally come across another retiree, maybe at the mall, maybe picking up the mail etc. They’re always surprised, since they never see me. I do occasionally drink red wine, for the resveratrol benefits. But these bars are also full of “working girls”, so I need to stay away. Thanks Brian…stay strong Brother.
Hi there George,
It sounds like you’ve got your head on straight about the area you’re in. It’s a shame to hear about the majority of the retirees you come across. I know my share of people drowning their sorrows into the bottom of a bottle as well. It’s a worldwide problem, that’s given as a worldly solution. Praise the Lord for his means of escape from being trapped under the weight of these spirits (pun intended).
God bless you Brother!