"I Need Another Drink!"

Reading:  Proverbs 20 -23
My Verse:

"Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds without cause?

Who has redness of eyes?

Those who tarry long over wine;

Those who go to try mixed wine.

Do not look at wine when it is red,

When it sparkles in a cup

And goes down smoothly.

In the end it bites like a serpent 

And stings like an adder

Your eyes will see strange things,

And your heart utter perverse things.

You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

Like one who lies on the top of a mast.

They struck me, you will say, but I was not hurt;

They beat me, but I did not feel it.

When shall I awake?

I must have another drink."

 (Proverbs 23:29-35)



I do not know how many times I have read Proverbs, and yet this particular reading struck me as funny!  I went back and reread it several times wondering and meditating about my reaction to it.  I think what got me is the final statement, "I must have another drink."



The decision to drink or not to drink has so many permutations to it.  Many Christians struggle with this one.  Social drinking has this air of sophistication about it -who doesn't want to appear sophisticated, with it, etc?  If one does not drink, there is almost always - whether spoken or not - this question of well, why not?  What is your problem?

I just listened to James McDonald's message on why he believes in total abstinence.  He used this very passage, among many others to explain why he believes it is best if one does not drink at all. 



The first thing he points out is the first verse.  Just look at what results from drinking:  woe, sorrow, strife, complaining, wounds and red eyes!


Then, even though the drink may "go down smoothly", "In the end it bites like a serpent  and stings like an adder."  The consequences, sadly, adversely affect not only the drinker but those around him/her.


Alcohol, in whatever form, is a drug and poison causing "the eyes to see strange things."

Alcohol causes one to lose all wisdom and do rather foolish things;

     "the heart utters perverse things"  (one becomes immoral)

     "one lies down in the midst of the sea" (not wise!)

     "one lies at the top of a mast"  (tipsy and confused!)

     "they struck me . . . I was  not hurt" (oblivious to what is truly happening)

     "they beat me, but I did not feel it" (again - oblivious)




Then, so very sadly the final statement "I must have another drink!"  (addiction)



Thank You, LORD God, for Your constant teaching and enlightening. 



Ditat Deus - God Enriches!