Do you think its ok to drink? Proverbs 31:6 Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; (KJV) And what constitutes anguish?
PREAMBLE:
The condition of being intoxicated because of excessive
drinking of alcoholic beverages. A drunkard is a person who
habitually overindulges in strong drink to the point of
drunkenness. To get to the stage of being termed a drunkard
does not start one day. It is possible that one may have
decide be excessively drunken. However, it is crystal clear
that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump.
DISCUSSION:
Gen. 9:20-27 Noah's account on drinking alcoholic beverages
Gen. 19: 30-38 Lot's account on drinking
The earliest records of drinking alcoholic beverages were
that of Noah and Lot. Noah after the deliverance from the
flood became an husbandman. He planted vineyard and got
himself drunk and he was naked. One of his children saw him
naked and spoke about it to others and to the effect Noah
cursed Canaan his son. But who caused it? Noah did. The
consequence of shame was his and remaining under curse
became the inheritance of his children.
Lot's daughters after escaping from Sodom made their father
drunk and he was made to lie with the two of them. Drinking
of alcoholic beverages caused these two bad incidences.
It should be observed from the above two personalities that
they engaged in drinking after the Lord has granted them
victory or released favor unto them. That is not the order
of God. Any favor granted man should result to praising our
God and not destroying the temple where God is supposed to
be living.
In Africa and other parts of the globe, people take to
drunkenness when things have been proved good to them.
Examples of occasion that calls for the use of beverages
are, marriage, christening, house warming ceremonies etc.
People say that they are celebrating. Noah did but the
consequence was bad not only for him but for his children
that were involved in his action. Whether good or bad,
blessing is far better than a curse.
Through out the scripture there are warnings against
drunkenness. Let us note a few of them for our admonition:
Hosea 4:10-12 "They will eat but not have enough; they will
engage in prostitution but not increase, because they have
deserted the Lord to give themselves to prostitution to old
wine and new, which takes away the understating of my
people"
I have discovered in my ministerial experience that those
who engage in drinking alcoholic beverages are also prone to
adultery. From statistics, about 50% of those who drink
alcoholic beverages also smoke. Many of those who are still
there started by taking little which eventually tantalized
them to take much they cannot control now. Why drinking
alcoholic beverages. To receive boldness to misbehave. To
join their friends who do not walk in the counsel of God.
Some people engage in it in order to conform to social norms
of the society in which they belong. This is absolutely
unchristian and unacceptable to the Almighty God.
Proverbs 23:21 "For drunkards and gluttons become poor, and
drowsiness clothes them in rags"
Can you see that? I have ministered to a few people in the
past who don't have anything to show for their labor. This
is because they set aside a particular amount of money for
drinks at the end of the month even before the family
budget. They are retched, without future and purpose. That
is why we rebuke the demon behind alcoholic beverages. Many
times, these demons have spoken out to our hearings that
they are out to destroy, make poor the person they inhabit.
Some of the people engaged in drunkenness die before their
time.
I remember before I gave my life to Christ. I used to drink
alcoholic beverages. I started from little. From this little
I graduated to drinking strong wine. One day, I got so drunk
to the extent that I did not know where I was. I was washing
my dress in a terrible gutter very close to our family
house. I was very young them. My mother, without too much
knowledge of God, did not like it. She was sobbing like a
baby on me. I was not ashamed until when I was told of my
actions of the previous day. One's focus will tend towards
joining drinking mates. I was poor academically then. There
was not much to show for my effort. There is demon behind
drinking. Thank God I got my deliverance, Jesus came into my
heart and I renounced the spirit behind drinking,
fornication, lying, deceit, inordinate affection and all
kind of social vices I had then.
I Cor. 6: 9-10 "Do you know that the wicked will not inherit
the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually
immoral nor idolaters nor adulterer nor male prostitutes nor
homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the king
of God"
The above is the list of those who will not enter into the
Kingdom of our dear God. Yes, God has the list of those who
will get to his Kingdom just like you will not like just
"anybody" to enter your bedroom. If your bedroom is sacred,
heaven is more sacred than your bedroom.
Daniel 1:8" But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with
the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for
permission not to defile himself this way."
Israelites considered food from Nebuchadnezzar's table to be
contaminated because the first portion of it was offered to
idols. Likewise, a portion of the wine was poured out on a
pagan altar. Ceremonially unclean animals were used and were
neither slaughtered nor prepared according to the
regulations of the law. He asked. not define himself. He
demonstrated the courage of his convictions. God enabled the
official to show favor to Daniel.
You do can decide today to refrain from what your mates are
doing. The grace that Daniel had in his days is not
different from the one you also have now. To refrain from
alcoholic beverages calls for self-determination, which
Daniel exhibited and prospered. The power of Jesus can help
your determination if you will allow Jesus into your heart.
Confess your sins to him today and be you will be saved. He
will give the power to become a child of God. Becoming a
child of God will deliver you from every vices including
drunkenness.
2 Samuel 11:13 "At David's invitation, he ate and drank with
him and David made him drunk. But in the evening Uriah went
out to sleep on his mat among his mater's servants; he did
not go home.
Based on personal determination David would have through
drunkenness deceived Uriah unto lying with his wife after
she was pregnant. That is what drunkenness can do.
Job 12:25 "They grope in darkness with no light; he makes
them stagger like drunkards. This is talking about a drunken
man that is also a staggering man. He is not normal. He
misbehaves. He loses his senses because he has so much
indulged in alcoholic beverages.
Proverbs 31:6 "Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to
those who are in anguish. Why must you perish? You should
refrain from beer and alcohols and be good instruments in
the hands of our God. Let no demon or alcohol destroy your
body. It is medically unfit for you to continue to indulge
in drinking alcohols.
CONCLUSION:
It is important to say that all these talked about
drunkenness. But we need to remember that not many people
can discern when they will reach the point of drunkenness.
And every drunken man must have started from little
drinking. Even juices that have been fermented should be
abstained from!.
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
Rev. Debo Adeyemo
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The Bible is clear in its teaching against the use of
alcoholic wine for non-medicinal purposes. Wine that has
been allowed to ferment is not condoned! Proverbs 20:1 says,
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not wise.”
Luke 21:34 says, “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.”
Romans 13:13 says, “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not
in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and
wantonness, not in strife and envying.”
I Corinthians 6:10 says, “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor
drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the
kingdom of God.”
Ephesians 5:18 says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
I Thessalonians 5:21,22 says, “Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
Now, many people will try to take the Bible's word and twist
it around and make it okay to drink within moderation. BUT,
we are to hold our bodies holy as a temple. Alcohol is a
drug, just as cocaine, marijuana, amphetimines, and others
are. Would you take THOSE in moderation for social purposes?
NO! We know that is not right. So what makes taking the drug
of alcohol anymore right? Nothing! Nothing at all. The
divided opinion on whether or not drinking is Biblically
alright or not will go on forever I'm sure, but if one TRULY
studies and follows the word of God and doesn't try to twist
it around to suit their own desire, I think they'll land on
the side of it not being okay! MAY ALL BE BLESSED!
Love And Blessings
DeeDee
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My answer to this is that we can make the Bible say
whatever we want it to say by taking a text out of context.
In this way the Bible can be made to completely contradict
itself. If we read the whole of Proverbs chapter 31, we see
that strong drink is condemned, it is not for Kings or
Rulers, it perverts the rights of the afflicted and helps us
to forget the Law. Prov.31:4-5 and verse 6 is written
tongue-in -cheek and means if we give it to those who are
perishing it won't make any difference to them as they are
perishing anyway. It doesn't remove the trouble it just
makes the mind forget.
So...! What the Bible really says It is not OK to drink
alcohol, to do so removes all sense of righteousness and we
forget God. Proverbs 31
God bless Noeline
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Yes, its ok to drink but not unto drunkenness. Jesus himself made wine, but there is a time and a place for everything. If drinking in front of your sister or brother will hinder there faith then do not drink. If it will offend a person then do not drink. If you can not drink in moderation then you should not drink at all. You don't want to do anything that will cause you to sin. So the answer yes and no.
Frederick Liggins
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A rule of Bible interpretation states that every passage
must be understood within its context. Proverbs 31:6 is part
of a larger context that extends from verses 4-9. Here is
the full context:
4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel- not for kings to drink
wine, not for rulers to crave beer, 5 lest they drink and
forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed
of their rights. 6 Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish; 7 let them drink and
forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for
the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Speak up and judge
fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
The passage is saying that rulers have a responsibility to
uphold the law and not abuse their subjects. It is not
addressing whether drinking alcohol is right or wrong.
There are, however, several passages which indicate that
Christians shouldn't drink alcoholic beverages. Proverbs
20:1 says, "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is
led astray by them is not wise" (NIV). In this section of
Proverbs, each verse is a complete thought by itself. A
brief search through Proverbs on the word "wine" reveals
that it is usually used with a negative connotation.
In the New Testament, Ephesians 5:18 says, "Do not get drunk
on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with
the Spirit" (NIV). However, the New Testament stops short of
an absolute proscription of alcohol. One must consider,
however, that we are to take care of our bodies, and any
health benefit to be gained from alcoholic beverages is
offset by several serious risks, such as liver and brain
damage and addiction (usually addicts are the last ones to
realize they're addicted, and for some people it only takes
one drink to become addicted to alcohol). The best course is
to avoid alcoholic beverages altogether.
Scott Severance
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In the time of Christ, I believe it was normal to drink of wine. I think the scriptures refer to 'excess'. Did Jesus drink wine? Probably. My father died homeless in the streets from drinking and for a long time I would never consider drinking. However, I realize that in moderation, wine is good for the heart, cholesterol. It is a tool given us. Use it wisely, or it will use you.
BJ Cassady
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According to Ecclesiastes and Jesus making wine and Paul
telling Timothy to take wine for his stomach, yes.
According to Ephesians 5, it is getting drunk that is the
problem.
I have found out recently that everyone has a different
definition of "drunk". Especially alcoholics. I recommend
what the state law is for drinking and driving (ex: .08%
blood alcohol).
What matters is your motive. Are you drinking 1 glass or can
or bottle with dinner & friends or are you using beer (or
food or sex) in place of God? In other words, beer is not
the best thing for peace, joy or love. God is.
Todd Shilt
