Reading the Word
Proverbs 23:29–35 (ESV)
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 Do not look at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 In the end it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart utter perverse things.
34 You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, like one who lies on the top of a mast.
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.”
Understanding and Applying the Word
Even in the ancient world, people knew the dangers of excessive drinking. This longer passage in Proverbs tells of some of the problems belonging to those who “tarry long over wine.” It causes woe, sorrow, strife, complaining, etc.
Those who struggle with alcohol addiction or those who are close to someone who does can likely affirm the truths outlined in these verses. Excessive drinking causes great harm to both the offender and those close to him or her. Jobs are lost. Marriages are strained. Families are often torn apart. If you struggle with alcohol addiction, you need to address it before it harms you or before it harms you in an even greater way. Pray and ask God for the strength you need, then seek help through a loved one or an organization. You will be glad you did.
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