"Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. " Proverb 23:29-30
I used to get invited out for drinks after work. Nothing big, just a few coworkers going to a local restaurant, not a bar, to have a few drinks and unwind a bit. I always declined the invite. They would still try to get me to come by changing the location or advising that not everyone was going to drink, others were only going to have water. They'd say it's not about what beverage you had, they just wanted to get together.
I understand that. But I still declined.
I know many people think that it is okay to be Christian and okay to drink. If you read the Bible, you will see God's strong disdain for alcohol. Yes, I have heard the argument, "well, Jesus drank wine." It's always the line that gets brought up on this topic but when you actually study the type of beverage it was when Jesus turned the water into wine, it was new wine, as in non-fermented, as in not alcoholic.
God called us Christians to "be ye separate" and to "come out from among them". I realize it is not the norm to be in my 20s and not drinking. I'm not saying that it isn't tempting at times but it's not worth it to me. I know I would disappoint God and I've learned from Proverbs 23 what happens to those that "tarry long at the wine" and I want nothing to do with it.
Proverbs 20:1 tells us, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." We've spent all month looking at proverbs and trying to obtain more wisdom, what sense would it make to wash that wisdom away with a few drinks.
I don't drink. Proverbs 23 is on my list of reasons why.
Who hath woe? Who hath contentions?
Life is stressful and hectic enough. I do not need another vice that opens the door to more woe, more contentions, more affliction.
I understand that. But I still declined.
I know many people think that it is okay to be Christian and okay to drink. If you read the Bible, you will see God's strong disdain for alcohol. Yes, I have heard the argument, "well, Jesus drank wine." It's always the line that gets brought up on this topic but when you actually study the type of beverage it was when Jesus turned the water into wine, it was new wine, as in non-fermented, as in not alcoholic.
God called us Christians to "be ye separate" and to "come out from among them". I realize it is not the norm to be in my 20s and not drinking. I'm not saying that it isn't tempting at times but it's not worth it to me. I know I would disappoint God and I've learned from Proverbs 23 what happens to those that "tarry long at the wine" and I want nothing to do with it.
Proverbs 20:1 tells us, "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." We've spent all month looking at proverbs and trying to obtain more wisdom, what sense would it make to wash that wisdom away with a few drinks.
I don't drink. Proverbs 23 is on my list of reasons why.
Who hath woe? Who hath contentions?
Life is stressful and hectic enough. I do not need another vice that opens the door to more woe, more contentions, more affliction.
Oh had I read and understood Proverbs 23 when I was a young teen-ager. Oh had I been saved when I was a young teen-ager. I knew sin when God saved me and I did repent when God saved my soul and turned my life around. And, Oh,do I know now Godly sorrow that worketh repentence in me. I am so sorry for my past. Thankyou Jesus for saving me and giving me a new life as all things have become new. Thankyou Jesus. Amen.
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