Do not be mocked

A friend of mine wants to quit drinking and really needs to quit drinking for health purposes; however he is struggling with it. Whenever he is around his old buddies who he has been friends with for years, he wants to drink because that is what they do on the weekends, cookout and drink some beers. He has been doing this with this crew for close to thirty years and it is not easy to just come in one day and not drink.

I know first hand how difficult this is because I quit drinking myself. I’m glad I did because I feel better and am far healthier, but primarily I’m glad because I feel that I am closer to God when not drinking as when I am drinking. No I do not think it is a sin to drink in moderation, but I know it is a sin to drink to excess and most people do just that including me back in the day. I quit drinking primarily because I did not want to have drinking as my Christian witness. I often said and did things when drinking that I would otherwise have never done. When I am around people who are drinking to excess it is amazing how loud, silly, and obnoxious some get after just a few drinks. As I watch this behavior unfold I remember the many times I was right there in the middle of them and having alcohol make a fool out of me.

It was very difficult to quit, especially after an entire lifetime of drinking. My buddy asked me how I did it. I told him it was just like when I quit smoking. At first I would try to go places where smoking was not allowed like a movie theater. I imagine it would be all but impossible to quit drinking by hanging out in a bar every night. After eating I would immediately get up and walk around and try to find something to engage my mind and take it off of the cravings for a cigarette. Quitting drinking was similar. Perhaps you could, (initially at least), avoid hanging out with the old gang whose only purpose in life seems to be to drink all weekend. Find some new hobbies, maybe some new friends are in order.

Most of all I think one should pray about it. When I quit, I asked God to help me. I reminded Him that I was quitting primarily for His honor and not mine and that I needed some help. I also reminded Him that I was not successful the first couple of times I tried and I could not do it alone. He came through and I celebrated my five year anniversary in April of this year. Believe it or not I still occasionally yearn for a drink especially when certain social conditions warrant. It passes quickly and I am always glad the next day when everyone else walks around with their eyes swollen nearly shut, and a bad taste in their mouth reaching for aspirin, and Imodium Plus, and I am feeling good and ready to thoroughly enjoy the day.

Proverbs 20:1
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is
raging; and whoever is deceived
by it is not wise.