Drinking



     "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived 
thereby is not wise (Proverbs 20:1)."  Recently here in Georgia, the blood 
alcohol limit, used to determine when someone is legally intoxicated, was 
lowered to .08 from .10.  Just like every other state in the Union, Georgia 
has a problem with people driving drunk.  The move to tougher standards 
concerning drunk driving is a good one but it shouldn't have been necessary. 
If people actually had a desire to do the will of God then there would not 
be any drunk drivers.  In fact, there would never be anyone drunk at all. 
Scripture tells us that wine or other strong drink is to be avoided. In 
Proverbs 31:4-7 we read this: "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for 
kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and 
forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted. Give 
strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be 
of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his 
misery no more".  This scripture talks about kings and princes not being 
drunk but surely strong drink affects all people the same way.  God says 
that strong drink, or wine, will cause a person to forget the law and 
pervert judgment.  It will also cause one to "remember his misery no more". 
Scripture also tells us directly that woe is pronounced upon someone who 
causes another to be drunk (Habakkuk 2:15).  It is therefore apparent that 
God condemns drinking any strong drink (wine, beer, etc.) or giving it to 
someone to get drunk with.
      A preacher once talked with a man concerning drinking.  The man said 
he knew his limit and could drink without getting drunk.  The preacher told 
him that one drink could make you drunk and he would prove it.  Then the 
preacher asked the man how many drinks he could have before he would be 
drunk.  The man said that the number was four.  The preacher then said "So 
if you took a fifth drink, you would be drunk correct?" The man answered 
yes.  Then the preacher pointed out that one drink, the fifth one, had made 
him drunk.  Christians sometimes try to reason that drinking socially is 
okay as long as they don't get drunk.  But God says that alcohol perverts 
judgment.  Once you start drinking, you can no longer think as clearly as 
without alcohol.  It is true that many medicines contain alcohol and those 
medicines as sometimes needed in order to gain back one's health.  But it is 
also true that no one, except the drunkard, would take those medicines to 
get drunk.  God expects His people to be pure (1 Tim. 5:22, 1 Peter 1:22) 
and that is not possible if we give ourselves to drinking.


                                                               In Christ, 
Steve Preston



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