"How It Sparkles In The Cup!"

Scripture Passage

Proverbs 8:1-10:32

Scripture Focus

Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
     Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
     Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,
     trying out new drinks.

Don’t gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
     how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
     it stings like a viper.
                                  (Proverbs 23:29-32 NLT)

Observation

I’ve chosen today’s Scripture focus for two reasons: First, I love the way it caught my attention this morning…and second, I love the truth.

“Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
     Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?”

I’m thinking, “Who? Someone who has suffered a terrible loss? Someone whose health has failed, whose business has faltered? Someone who is going through a relational struggle?” Nope—

“It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,
     trying out new drinks.”

For the dozens of times I’ve read this proverb, that still caught me off guard. That’s cool. And the proverb expresses a great and valuable truth—and one much too commonly overlooked these days.

Alcohol has such powerful appeal for so many, whether it’s simply having a beer with a friend or involves mixing up something more exotic. And I’d be the first to admit (albeit reluctantly) that, though the Scriptures carry numerous warnings against drunkenness, drinking an alcoholic beverage is nowhere explicitly prohibited (except, in the case of the Nazarite vow, expressing full devotion to God. So, if you want a way to Biblically express your utter devotion to God…).

But the wise author of this proverb looks past what might be “permissible” to what will ultimately be “best”—and recognizes the damage inflicted upon individuals, families, and people as a whole when alcohol (or any other substance or life-distraction, for that matter) becomes the guest of honor.

“…in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
     it stings like a viper.”

Now—given that alcohol has no appeal to me personally, and given that this is *my* devotional blog…what’s all this got to do with me?

Today, it’s got this to do with me. Knowing that my convictions as a tee-totaller aren't exactly universally shared these days, and even recognizing that “social ills” like alcohol are somewhat secondary issues to the primary matter of faith in Jesus Christ (and He’s much better than I am at helping people clean up what’s broken in their lives), still—if I believe that alcohol use or gambling or pornography and such are destructive to individuals and society alike, I need to be able to articulate that conviction clearly and wisely when the opportunity is right to do so. More than just the standard knee-jerk prohibitions anyone can offer, I want to be a “person of understanding” (see yesterday’s post) able to help people discover the deceptive seductions behind this world’s attractions. I want to “be prepared to give an answer to everyone…for the hope that [I] have” (1 Peter 3:15)—a hope that far outshines what “sparkles in the cup”. More broadly, I want to be able to offer a well-developed “social theology” that thoroughly applies faith in Christ to contemporary culture—not just prohibiting behaviors I am convinced do destroy both people’s lives and the society we’re a part of, but also explaining in a positive way how a living relationship with the Lord empowers individuals to themselves engage life on an entirely different level, building a healthy society together as a result.

Yeah, I know that’s a bit wordy and a bit heady—but that’s what you get today. And a gold foil star for reading all the way to the end. :)