Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1942-03-05

100 ~ IL isaiah oo.lz' CorlntnlanS
1876. z.
GOLDEN TExT-wine is a mocker.
strong drink is raging; and whosoever is
deceived thereby is not wise.-Proverbs
20:1.
The alcohol problem receives at
tention in four lessons of each year.
This is the first one for 1912 and
brings before US a number of scrip
lures not often used. in order to
suggest the drinkers reasons for
drinking. Other matters appear. but
we shall limit ourselves to present.
ing these reasons, together with the
Christian answer to each one.
Why do men drink?
I. To Be SociabIe Gen. $3.50.
At the banquet prepared by JOS
eph the allowance for Benjamin was
greatly increased. and they drank
and were merry" How often that
has been the plea which has led
into drinking and into drunkenness.
The social glass" has often led to
the drunkard's grave.
Well, surely God wants us to be
sociable. Yes, He does, and the
perfect provision for mans social
nature is found in Christian fellow
ship.
II. To Be Happy FPS l04: IA, 49,
Wine is supposed to bring happi-
ness, and we may admit that it
does bring temporary lift which
some call happiness. But who is,
satisfied with happiness? 1t depends
entirely on what happens. If the
wrong thing happens we are ur-
happy. We need deep abiding joy.
and only right relationship to God
can give that.
III. To Evade Responsibility
prov. 3l:4, 50.
When LIES burdens become too
much for him the weakling seeks
relief and evades his responsible
ties in the deadening power Of alco-
hol. But that doesn't solve the prob
lem. It is still there when sobriety
returns, and usually more serious
than ever. What can a man do? The
answer is. turn to God. He gives
wisdom, grace and strength.
Nv. To Forget Sorrow (Prov. 81:
81. $50 ~.
Drown your sorrows" is the de-
ceptive promise Of liquor; but they
stand right there beside man, and
when his poor befuddled head be-
gins to clear they present them
selves more persistently than ever
What's the answer? The God Of all
comfort is ready to bear mans sor-
rows or to give him grace to bear
them and to lead him out into a
place of peace and victory.
v. To Forget Poverty prov. 81:
y.
Heavy is the affection of poverty
in a world of plenty. Sometimes it
is the result of carelessness or of
sin. but often it is the lot of those
who are innocently caught in its
grip. Men have tried to forget, to
drown" even this problem in drink.
and have only made their poverty
worse and more unbearable.
vi. To Find Satisfaction (Eccl.
2: l-3, 10, ID.
The book of Ecclesiastes gives
the account of man under the
sum-" that is, apart from Gods
guidance and blessing. seeking to
satisfy the cravings of his heart in
many ways. All of them prove vain,
including the effort to find it in wine
and in pleasure.
Frustrated souls often seek re-
lease through intoxicants. They gain
a measure Of liberty and a sense
Of masterful power. but it is all as
delusive as the dreams Of grandeur
Of the insane. It is even worse, for
1t is false condition, deliberately
created and soon lost. together with
lost character and decency Of life.
The morning after brings only the
deepened despair of greater dissat-
isfaction. 'ss
VII. To Stimulate Hope Elsa. So:
12).
A certain fearful looking forward
to the time Of judgment tends to
dampen the drinkers enthusiasm.
So he drinks more to reawaken in
his heart the hope" that tomorrow
will not bring reckoning, but viii
be another good day. The world
has no real hope. in fact the word
itself has lost its true meaning and
indicates only a sort Of wishfll
thinking. Is there any real hope?
Oh, yes, and the Christian has it,
hope that is confident expecta.
ton of the fulfillment of Gods every
promise. That kind Of hope takes
care of tomorrow-and all the to-
morrows.
VIII. To Encourage Play Il Cor.
1876, ~.
Paul warns against the folly OF
the "eat, drink. and be merry phi
losophy. That road ends in disaster.
Does not God want us to play?
Indeed He does. He gave us the
instinct for recreation We need
pleasant relaxation. and He has pro
vided for US all the beauties Of ma
ture, all the pleasures Of wholesome
play, and all in the finest of fellow.
ship with His people and with Him
self. Thus we find real recreation