I had an uncle who was a classic binge alcoholic. He would not drink during the week but started drinking heavily beginning Friday afternoon after he got off work. He would continue to drink literally until late Sunday night. This uncle raised bees for a hobby.
One weekend he was in one of his drunken stupors and he decided that he would relieve his bees of some honey. Not good! In his drunken state he did not wear any protective clothing or use smoke to drive the bees, (who did not want anyone messing with their honey), away from the hive, (and him). He staggered around out there muttering, “You sons of bees, (he actually called them sons of something else, but this seemed more appropriate for WFTD), may sting me, but I will rob you of your honey”. He robbed them of their honey all right, but the sons of bees did indeed sting him in retaliation for it. In fact those sons of bees stung him so much that his head swelled up to the size of a basketball. His eyes were swollen shut, his ears were the size of my hand, and those angry sons of bees even got down inside his pants, (Ouch!). He staggered into the house and smeared some honey on a piece of bread and smiled a silly smile as he slowly chewed it up, smacking as he went. He did survive this incident, but it is a wonder that he did.
When I used to drink, I often drank heavily, and I did some very dumb things too. In fact, most people who drink or know someone who does can tell countless stories that are similar in nature. Alcohol numbs the brain and lowers inhibitions and practically anything goes when under the influence.
The Bible does not tell us to abstain from drinking. The first miracle performed by Jesus was to turn water into wine. While in Israel recently I visited Cana the site that this miracle was performed. Our guide told us that this is the place that the Baptists believe that God turned water into grape juice; for everyone else it is the site where Jesus turned water into wine. The Bible has plenty to say about drinking too much. Having a glass of wine with dinner is acceptable, but getting drunk is another and is most definitely a sin which means that there will be a consequence if you commit it. The consequence may be a hangover, looking like an idiot to your family or friends, losing your driving license, going to jail, divorce, or maybe losing your life or causing someone else to lose theirs.
Lives are literally destroyed by drinking. I have seen it first-hand in my life and I am sure you have as well. Most all of us know someone who has suffered greatly because of the ravages of alcohol and alcoholism. When I was sixteen years old I was visiting a friend in the hospital. I went outside and saw a buddy out there standing on the street. I asked him what he was doing, and he told me that there had been a big car crash on the outskirts of town, and he was awaiting the ambulance that was bringing them in, (he worked for the ambulance company). I asked if I could observe and he said that it would be OK, as long as I did not get in the way.
In a few moments the ambulance came screaming in and slid to a stop. They rushed around and opened the back door and took a young girl on a stretcher out. She had blood all over her and was screaming in pain. The driver yelled, “Just leave the other two in there for now” and pushed the stretcher on into the emergency room. I walked over to the window of the ambulance and looked in. I was greeted by lifeless eyes staring into space and blood trickling down the sides of a young girl’s temple. Two young teenage girls were dead inside the ambulance and that is why the driver had told the others just to leave them in there. This was my first look at a dead person, (that was not in a coffin on display at a funeral home), and I still vividly remember the bright red blood on both sides of her head and her lifeless eyes with the light removed from them blankly staring into space.
The car crash was caused by a drunk driver. Drinking to excess is no laughing matter. Alcoholism is a progressive disease that will only get worse as you continue to drink. Drink in moderation or don’t drink at all. Do you love your kids and want to spare them the misery of alcohol related maladies? 82% of teenagers drink if their parents drink. 72% say no if their parents say no! King Solomon was not talking about grape juice below
Proverbs 23:29
Who has woe?
Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions?
Who has complaints?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of the eyes?
Those who linger long at the wine.
Do not look on the wine when it is red.
When it sparkles in the cup.
When it swirls around smoothly;
At the last it bites like a serpent.