Proverbs 20
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise... Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel" (verses 1 and 3).
Possibly for the first time on the blog I will share my thoughts on drinking. Personally, I have never had a drop of alcohol (apart from medicines that include it), and won't. My dad used to be an alcoholic, I think my grandpa might have been at one point as well. For that reason I won't touch it. And then you have the pastor thing, and the cultural stereotype that Christians don't drink. But we do have the passage in 1 Timothy where Paul tells Timothy to take some wine for his stomach (1 Timothy 5.23). But then we have this verse in Proverbs.
The word intoxicated means "to affect temporarily with diminished physical and mental control by means of alcohol liquor, a drug, or another substance, especially to excite or stupefy with liquor." Alcohol, no matter how small the amount has an affect. With some they lose control of their tongue, they say things they shouldn't. Others lose control physically, they start fights or get into car wrecks. And the wise man does not allow himself to be intoxicated. The wise man always stays in control of himself. It is the honor of a man to avoid a fight, but any fool will quarrel. A wise man who is sober has full control of his thoughts and action. But a drunk fool rushes into a brawl.
With so much that can happen, why give up any amount if control? Why risk running your mouth and looking like an idiot, or getting yourself beaten or killed? A wise man does not allow himself to be intoxicated because if he does he loses control, and appears as a fool.
"Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy man? A righteous man who walks in his integrity - how blessed are his sons after him... It is by his deeds that a las distinguishes himself if his conduct is pure and right" (verses 6-7 and 11).
This is something that is getting harder and harder to find. Men make vows on their wedding day only to break them when they get bored. Many don't even get to the wedding day, they say what they need to get what they want and then are gone.
Every election we hear promises from politicians, and most of hem are forgotten immediately after the election is won. In business principles are expressed until they compromise profits and the. They are often abandoned. In the twenty-first century who can find an honest man?
But there are some among the righteous who walk in integrity. They do what is right and always stand for truth and justice. The sons of this man are blessed because people trust and love their father. They have a family name to be proud of, and a strong legacy to carry on. And the so a carry it on by doing what is right, walking in dad's footsteps. He has set an example and set their feet on the path he is walking. If their lives are lived I righteousness, if they keep to the path, they will stand apart from other man.
"Man's steps are ordained by the LORD, how then can a man understand his way? It is a trap for a man to say rashly, 'It is holy!' and after the vows to make inquiry... The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being" (verses 24-25 and 27).
In this we see our God dependence. He ordains our steps, he is our life giving spirit, He searches our innermost being. It is crucial that we search and inquire before attributing things to Him. On the outside many things can appear good, but inwardly, beneath the surface, there is death and destruction waiting to swallow us. We must measure everything by the truth of Scripture and what it tells us about God. He is the standard of holiness.
This is what stood out to me from Proverbs 20.
To God alone be the Glory!
Peace be with you
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