The Bible provides timeless guidance for navigating life’s challenges, including the often-debated topic of alcohol. In this sermon, Pastor Léveillé draws from the book of Proverbs to address the dangers of intoxicating beverages. Through key passages, he outlines four critical warnings about alcohol: it deceives and destroys wisdom, leads to poverty and shame, brings misery and addiction, and contradicts a life controlled by the Holy Spirit. By understanding the cultural context of biblical wine and applying scriptural principles, believers can make wise choices that honour God and reflect a Spirit-filled life.
Alcohol Deceives and Destroys Wisdom
Proverbs 20:1 declares, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” This verse personifies wine as a mocker, an arrogant scorner that ridicules truth and leads the drinker astray. The Hebrew word for “deceived” suggests wandering off course, indicating that even the diluted wine of biblical times could steer a person away from God’s path. Strong drink, likened to modern beer with a 7-11% alcohol content, is described as “raging,” causing chaos and loss of control. Proverbs 31:4-5 further warns, “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink: Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.” Kings needed clear minds to make just decisions, as a single error could cost lives or nations. As ambassadors of Christ, believers must maintain spiritual clarity, which alcohol threatens to cloud. Even the weak wine of ancient times posed a risk; how much greater is the danger of today’s stronger beverages?
Alcohol Leads to Poverty and Shame
Proverbs 23:19-21 advises, “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” The term “winebibber” denotes someone who soaks themselves in alcohol, akin to a glutton who lacks self-control. Such behavior leads to poverty, not just financially but also relationally and spiritually. Proverbs 21:17 adds, “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” Wine and oil, luxuries of the day, drain resources that could be used for family needs or God’s kingdom. Alcohol takes more than it gives, robbing money, relationships, and dignity. The pastor shared a sobering story of a man who claimed control over his drinking, only to lose control in a public, shameful display, illustrating the real-world consequences of alcohol’s deceptive allure.
Alcohol Brings Misery and Addiction
Proverbs 23:29-35 paints a vivid picture of alcohol’s destructive effects: “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.” These verses list the miseries tied to habitual drinking: sorrow, fights, incoherent speech, unexplained injuries, and bloodshot eyes. The passage warns against even looking at wine when it sparkles in the cup, for “at the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.” The Hebrew terms for biting and stinging evoke poison injected into veins, highlighting alcohol’s toxic nature. The cycle of addiction is clear in verse 35, where the drinker, after being beaten and disoriented, says, “When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” This tragic portrait underscores that alcohol’s temporary relief leads to lasting misery, ensnaring those who linger too long.
Alcohol Contradicts Spirit-Filled Living
Ephesians 5:18 commands, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.” This verse draws a sharp contrast between alcohol’s degrading influence and the Holy Spirit’s empowering presence. Proverbs 23:19 urges, “Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way,” emphasizing the need to guard the heart with diligence (Proverbs 4:23). Alcohol wages war on the heart, dulling spiritual discernment and hindering a life of prayer and witness. The pastor noted that he has never seen a drinking party turn into a prayer meeting, nor has he been approached by an intoxicated person eager to discuss salvation. A Spirit-filled life, marked by psalms, hymns, and thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:19-20), is incompatible with alcohol’s influence. The goal is not mere sobriety but a vibrant, Spirit-controlled life that seizes every opportunity to share Christ.
Conclusion
The Bible’s warnings about alcohol are clear: it deceives, impoverishes, brings misery, and opposes the Spirit-filled life God desires for His people. In 1 Timothy 5:23, Paul advises Timothy, “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” This instruction reveals Timothy’s practice of abstinence, as Paul had to urge him to consume even diluted wine for medicinal purposes. This example underscores the wisdom of avoidance over moderation, especially given the potency of modern alcohol compared to biblical wine. Believers are called to establish convictions based on scriptural principles and set standards to uphold them. By choosing a Spirit-filled life over the fleeting allure of alcohol, we position ourselves to serve, worship, and walk with Christ, ready to share His gospel at any moment. Let us seek not to forget our troubles through intoxication but to remember God’s promises through the power of His Spirit.
