Proverbs 23:29-35

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about drinking:

Proverbs 23:29-35 (ESV)

Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds without cause?

Who has redness of eyes?

Those who tarry long over wine;

those who go to try mixed wine.

Do not look at wine when it is red,

when it sparkles in the cup

and goes down smoothly.

In the end it bites like a serpent

and stings like an adder.

Your eyes will see strange things,

and your heart utter perverse things.

You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

like one who lies on the top of a mast.

“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.”

Alcohol in our society is made to be clamorous and appealing.   Advertisements are high on gloss and low on the calamities surrounding drinking.  In the above proverbs we see that Solomon knew the bad affects of wine and assorted drink.   In the Christian community there are as many opinions on what God "allows" and "forbids" about drinking.  Perhaps, there are more differences than maybe any other subject.   We may agree on the doctrine of Salvation by grace but we stumble over each other with our doctrine of drink.   Whatever your opinion about drink you have to accept what Solomon says in this passage.  Those who do drink, right or wrong in God's eyes, will face the possible outcomes listed above.   I choose to address these proverbs together because they can't be separated without losing some meaning.   Drinking may have some benefits, as we see those listed in Scripture (1 Timothy 5:23).  Solomon himself tells us to give wine to someone who is about to perish (Proverbs 31:6).   Be aware of these affects of drinking.    Whatever your stance on what God says, these warnings don't diminish that those who enter this world must endure the outcomes of this world.  Look at some of the “results” of drinking, listed by Solomon:

1. Woe!

2. Sorrow!

3. Strife!

4. Complaining!

5. Wounds without cause!

6. Redness of eyes!

7. Feel like you have been bitten by a snack!

8. Seeing strange things!

9. Utter perverse things ... from your heart!!

10. Doing dangerous things ... unaware or not caring about the outcomes. 

11. Addicted ... wake up and despite all this you want more. 

That is what is actually in the bottle.