“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Proverbs 20.1

When was the last time you had a drink? I am not talking about water but as the text says plainly a ‘strong’ drink? As Christians who follow the health message, alcohol is a substance that should no longer be indulged. So then, this passage no longer applies to us, does it?

Tee-totalers in my experience have a tendency to slightly ‘have a go’ or ‘bash’ those who drink with the message of temperance i.e. no fermented drink should pass the lips. I hold my hand up and say that I have done this especially when cornered by my slightly loud and tipsy friends who are puzzled as to why I do not drink.

“Not even at Christmas or on your birthday?”

“Not even to wet the baby’s head.”

No, thrice no. But this text is relevant if we even superficially look at reasons as to why people drink. There are many but to name a few; boredom, to relieve pressure, to forget, temporary pleasure, addiction, to relieve inhibitions, to fit in and the list could go on.

When reading the key text this thought occurred to me. Why do people watch TV, buy wall robes full of clothes or shoes that they are never going to wear, spend excessive hours consuming media through Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat or equivalent outlets, play computer games through game consoles like Playstation or Xbox or Wii. Are these not just substitutes for facing or dealing with life? Isn’t binge drinking or pub-crawling the same as watching TV soap after soap? Proverbs 20:1 does not mention the word addiction but it does the word deceived. Neither or them are words that naturally have positive connotations although there are some.

So you don’t drink. Ok, so what is your substitute? Let us schedule more time for God to develop a deeper relationship with him.

The song today is by Smokie Norful ‘I need you now.’ Click on the picture to listen.