“Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.” (Proverbs 23:20-21 NIV)
Portion is the problem.
How much alcohol you drink is what is essential. Jesus’s first recorded miracle is turning water into wine:
“Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet…the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.” (John 2: 7-9, 11 NIV)
One common myth is you can’t drink if you follow Jesus. Where this thought comes from, I do not know. The truth is Jesus’s first miracle involved alcohol. However, too much of a good thing isn’t suitable for anyone. Overindulging in alcohol is where the problems begin.
Moderation is key.
Alcoholism is a disease. People’s bodies become addicted to the content. To relieve the symptoms of withdrawals, alcoholics drink more and more. When I was in college, I drank a lot. One friend I made during those years was the nephew of my professor. His uncle informed him of how I dragged myself into class each day, looking hungover. He wasn’t wrong. Overindulging in alcohol is something college students do every day. Newfound freedom is hard to manage at such a young age.
During my senior year of college, I worked on a project with a partner. We drank too much one night after studying. I drove home. The next morning when I woke up in my bed, I remembered nothing of the drive. That night changed my life. Fear gripped me as I thought about what could have happened. Praise Jesus, nothing did. God was pursuing me when I wasn’t pursuing Him. One night, and I knew I needed to make changes in my life.
Moderation is still something I strive for daily. No matter whether our battle is with alcohol, food, or something else, we have to monitor its place in our lives.
“I have the right to do anything,” you say–but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”–but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23 NIV)
Not everyone can drink. For some people, alcohol is a poison. They shouldn’t drink at all. The more a person drinks, the more they lose their inhibition. Whoever is drinking isn’t aware of how the alcohol is affecting them. Poor decisions follow. I know I’ve made mistakes because of alcohol. By the grace of God, there go I.
Alcohol in moderation is permissible. Portion is the problem. None is better than too much.
Question of the Day:
How dangerous is alcohol in your life?
Further Reading: Isaiah 28:14-30:11 NIV, Galatians 3:23-4:31 NIV Psalm 62:1-12 NIV, Proverbs 23:19-21 NIV
