Day 565: Sober or sorrows? - Proverbs 23 vs 29 -35
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaining? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? 30 Those who tarry long over wine; those who go to try mixed wine.
31-32 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder. 33-34 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. (of the rigging] 35 “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 (English Standard Version)
What an accurate, even hilarious, description of someone who has spent too many hours in a pub. From the general summary in vs 29, to the more detailed picture of a person hallucinating and swaying and staggering like a sailor in a storm (vs 33-34), and then getting into fights which they can't even recall the next day (vs 35), it perfectly sums up the life of a drunkard. What would you say is the saddest part of vs 35?
I'd say it's those words: “When shall I awake? I must have another drink!” While the description and behaviour of a drunkard may be hilarious, the condition that such a person is in is extremely serious. Addiction to alcohol is a major cause of sorrows, terrible injuries, and broken homes.
I use the word 'addiction' because I've not found anywhere in the Bible that says people are not allowed an alcoholic drink at all. It was forbidden to those who had taken certain religious vows, but it was not forbidden in general. When the apostle Paul gave guidelines for people who were to be in charge of certain Church duties he said: ”Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.” (1 Timothy 3:8) Even in today's verses the warning is to those who 'tarry long' and who love 'mixed wine'. (Like mixing your drinks.)
But having said that, what is the warning of vs31-32?
It tells us that we must never underestimate the danger of alcohol. Wine, beer and other drinks can all look extremely appetizing. They hold out the promise of a good time, or a way to escape from one's problems or sorrows. But they have the potential of poisoning and destroying one's life.
Remember that much of Proverbs is a book of a father's instruction to a growing son. He is preparing his son for life in a world that is full of temptation. It applies to parents everywhere who want their children to avoid falling into the pitfalls and addictions that life can bring. One lesson we can take is to be careful of being too legalistic. He doesn't say to his son 'You must never have an alcoholic drink'. Instead he vividly describes the danger of over indulgence.
Christians should take to heart what this father said earlier in the book. In Chapter 20 vs 1 he warned that “Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1) And we can add to this Paul's words in Ephesians 5:15-20 when he said: “Look carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And don't get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Alcohol doesn’t have to destroy a person and their home. Addictions CAN be broken. The joy that Jesus Christ brings to people's lives is far more wonderful than the joy they got from a bottle. The Holy Spirit gives us a sound mind that enables us to be in control of our lives. Being sober and filled with God's Spirit leads to a life of gratitude to God, not a life of sorrow, wounds and red eyes.