STRONG DRINK, WEAK WILL

STRONG DRINK, WEAK WILL

Have you ever wondered what the Bible says about drinking beer and/or wine? I've done the research for you:

Proverbs 20:1

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Proverbs 21:17

Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

Proverbs 23:29-35

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!

Isaiah 5:22

Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine

and champions at mixing drinks...

Isaiah 28:1-3 NIV

Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah. Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley— to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! 2 See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong. Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind, like a driving rain and a flooding downpour, he will throw it forcefully to the ground. 3 That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards, will be trampled underfoot...

Isaiah 28:7-8 NIV

And these also stagger from wine

and reel from beer:

Priest and prophets stagger from beer

and are befuddled with wine;

they reel from beer,

they stagger when seeing visions,

they stumble when rendering decisions.

All the tables are covered with vomit

and there is not a spot without filth.

Isaiah 56:11-12

Israel’s watchmen are blind,

they all lack knowledge;

they are all mute dogs,

they cannot bark;

they lie around and dream,

they love to sleep.

11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;

they never have enough.

They are shepherds who lack understanding;

they all turn to their own way,

they seek their own gain.

12 “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!

Let us drink our fill of beer!

And tomorrow will be like today,

or even far better.”

Habakkak 2:15-16

“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors,

pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk,

so that he can gaze on their naked bodies!

16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory.

Now it is your turn! Drink and let your nakedness be exposed!

The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you,

and disgrace will cover your glory.

Hosea 4:10-11

“They will eat but not have enough;

they will engage in prostitution but not flourish,

because they have deserted the Lord

to give themselves to prostitution;

old wine and new wine

take away their understanding."

Matthew 18:6 NIV

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea."*

Romans 14:21 KJV

It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.*

1 Timothy 3:3

...not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Titus 1:7

Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

*Be careful who you lead to drink alcoholic beverages because even though you may be able to handle the liquor, someone else may be hooked by it and eventually become an alcoholic. Then their life will change dramatically and they may lose their wife and children. Or they may kill someone in an accident or lose their own life. They will certainly make poor choices if they are under the influence. In those ways the child may stumble because of "a simple drink." No one wants to lose their child to "a simple drink," whether it be that the child has become a drunkard or if the child accidentally kills or maims someone, or both.

I remember reading a quote one time that said, "What parents do in moderation, their child may do in excess." This is certainly true of alcoholic beverages.

My interest in this subject doesn't come from self-righteousness, even though I've never touched a drink in my life. My interest comes from living life, observing, hearing stories and becoming part of several loved one's consequences. Mom's side of the family were devout Christians. They were loved, treated well, and boundaries were set for them until they reached adulthood. Dad's side of the family practically lived in taverns. He was not raised well and he hated his family's lifestyle, even though he was part of it. He lost an older sister to alcoholism which caused her to commit suicide. Her small children came to live with our family. Dad's twin spent time in jail because of DUI's. She lived an immoral life besides. Dad raised us to stay completely way from beer or any other alcoholic beverage. He saw the destruction that comes from the drink used for artificial fun. My former brother-in-law nearly lost an arm to a drunk driver who sideswiped his car. My grandson succumbed to drinking and drugs to the point of addiction and became so miserable that he took his life. It's just a drink, but a drink that can ruin not only one person's life but all others connected to that person are grieved. Where's the fun in that? I don't get it.