The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1943-05-21
BIBLE TEACHINGS ON WINES
DECEITFULNESS

UECEAIFULNES
LESSON TExT-Proverbs 2o:1; 232e-35:
Matthew 24.A5.51.
a serpent and stingeth like an adder
Proverbs 1882.
Deceitful is a good word to de-
scribe both the product and the
propaganda of the liquor business.
Alcoholic beverages are in them
selves most deceitful, and the meth
DDS by which they are sold to the
public certainly cannot commend
themselves to right-thinking people.
Intoxicants are associated with
social preferment, festive occasions,
radiant beauty, when they ought to
be connected with the bleary eye,
the babbling tongue, the ragged chill
dren and brokenhearted mothers.
What about the men who have lost
their positions and their characters,
and the women who have paid with
their virtue for their love of intoxi-
cants? Why not picture them in the
beautiful magazine advertisements?
I. Wine Is a Deceiver prov. 20:D.
Wine is personified here as an
evil demon who leads men on in the
hope of some pleasure or advantage,
and then let's him down to the depths
Of destruction. It makes him think
he is great and powerful, when he
is only weak and degraded. It ex-
cites him to foolishness and wild
boisterousness, when he would nor
mally be sensible, quiet and orderly.
He who thought he was wise in
partaking of its stimulation, finds
himself deceived, and to his regret
he realizes that he is fool in the
hands of malicious deceiver.
III. Wine Is a Depraver (Prof. %:
29-35).
Depravity is word not used as
much as it was a generation ago,
but it well describes the condition
to which the drunkard comes in due
time. And it is wine and other
liquor which has depraved or cor
rupted him. A number Of things
appear in the text.
l. Liquor Destroys (vv. 20, 3O).
This is true morally, mentally,
physically, and spiritually. Red eyes,
wounds, complaining-these are only
the outward signs of inward phys
ical destruction of alcohol. Woe and
sorrow speak of mental and social
distress. The moral and spiritual
destruction follow.
2. Liquor Deludes wv. 81, 32).
Its color, its sparkle and effer-
vescence, its smooth appearance
all excite the anticipation of good
ness and pleasure. And what does
the drinker receive? The bite of the
serpent and the sting of the adder.
How true!
8. Liquor Demoralizes ". 33).
Alcohol is the handmaiden Of inn
morality. Strange women" come
into the picture very quickly. They
and the drinker soon find that drink
sets them free from the limitations
of decency and good sense, and the
result is beyond description.
Those who defend liquor, or tenn
porize with this problem, may as
well recognize that they are encour-
aging the moral destruction of our
boys and girls. It is a terrifying
responsibility!
4. Liquor Dulls Mans Senses and
Dazes Mans Mind wv. "a, 35). Only
fool would lie down to sleep in the
midst of the sea, or on top of the
mast Of ship, or in the gutter, or
against a lamp post. That's what
drink does for man.
His perceptions become so dull
that he can be beaten, and he does
not know he has been hurt. Ex-
posed to inclement weather, he
knows not enough to seek shelter.
His money is lost or given away
without concern on his part.
And when he sobers up-what
then? His faculties are so dazed that
he can think Of only one thing to do,
and that is to seek more wine. What
is it that Scripture says about the
dog and the fool? (See Prov. 26:11).
iii. Wine Is a Destroyer (Matt.
24:45-5l).
We have already touched on that
point in its personal application, but
now we see it in its bearing on his
occupation and standing in the COM
n,unity.
The contrast is between the good
servant who recognizes that his one
and constant obligation is to serve,
whether his master is present or abb
sent, and the evil servant who vio-
lates his trust.
Notice that his first thought after
cruelty to his fellow servants is to
satisfy his appetite "to drink with
the drunken"
Cruelty, nismanagement, unfaith-
fulness are tied up without question
with drinking. Is it not so today?
If you doubt it, read your daily
newspaper. Why trifie with any
thing which keeps such evil COM
oany? You may find yourself mixed
up with them beyond your ability to
get free.
The final result is the loss Of his
position and of his life. Who will