The Republican., 1947-08-14

Va thS MoH-S 3lGIC lnSbtCLS, OnlCa"O.
TIE increase IN the drinlIln'
habits Of our nation is a source
OF concern, not orly to the forces o
morality, bit to the liquor interest,"
them elves. tloW strange it is tt
have the pUrvevors Of a commodity
urge moderation in its use!
Unioutt"<iIr IT, R'b'c's answer
to this whole problem is the only
right one. The Word of God has
many strong things to say con-
cerning alcoholic beverages. Wise
is the man who heeds the injunc-
tiOns of Scripture.
/. LiquOr-a Description prov
20:D.
WHAT striking text this is
w Think of its implications
"Wine is a mocker." 1t grasps it:
victim in a vicelike grip, and ther
taunts him in his inability to release
himself The drunkard is victim
of his own appetite, helpless to re
sist the temptation which ensnares
him.
The young person who takes his
first drink for Sociability is indeed
deceived, in that alcoholic liquor
never reveals the possible cost
which it exacts from the one who
takes that first drink. The better
part of valor is to leave the stuff
alone.
The Word of God says further
that "strong drink is brawler'
(A.S.VD. All of us have probably
seen how the drunkard enters into
conflict entirely without reason. Ii
quor seems to make a man sense
less to danger and quick to express
anger.
ii. LiquOr-a Warning prov. %;
19-2D.
THE admonition of this passage
L is that we should not be found
among drunkards and gluttonous
men.
Solomon here tells us of one of the
poverty. The droWsiness which is
the result of both of these sins does
indeed clothe a man with rags.
If, therefore, we have no higher
motive than that of self-respect,
than that of having enough of this
worlds goods to make a present
able appearance, we should avoid
company with those who will lead
us into the same excess that char
actcrizeS them. How important it
is that we guide our hearts in
Gods way.
Let us understand, of course, that
there are far higher motives for
right living than those involved
here. However, if we can come to
the conclusion to avoid drinking on
the basis of a lower motive, how
much more important it is to come
to the same conclusion on the basis
of a higher one. AS Christians, that
higher motive concerns our testi-
mony before men, our living life
that will cause others to want to
know Christ; in short, our living for
the glory of God
iii. Liquor-a History prov. %:
1885; Eccles. 10:1O.
IN THE first of these Scripture
L passages we have what may be
called a history of drunkenness.
This sin leads to woe, to sorrow, to
contentious, to wounds without a
cause.
But that is not the end. Look care
fully at Proverbs 1882 and stress
the first three words, "At the last"
At the last, it does indeed bite like
a serpent and sting like an adder.
Such poison is injected into
ones body and soul that it seems
as though there is no remedy.
Thank God, there is a remedy;
there is power in the blood of
Christ to make the f0ulest clean.
In verses 33 to 35 we read some
of the results of drunkenness: Be
holding of strange things ". 33),
utterance of perverse things ". 33),
insensibility which is the result of
drinking ". 35). and inability to
avoid succumbing to the same
temptation all over again ". 35).
Is it any wonder that the admoni-
ton is Look not thou upon the wine
when it is red, when it sparkleth in
the cup, when II goeth down
smoothly" Although man still has
a sembIance of right thinking, the
temptation is great enough to de-
ceive him as to the consequences.
In view of such results, is it any
wonder this same Preacher says
in Ecclesiastes 10:l7 that the land
is blessed when its rulers eat and
drink for strength and not for
drunkenness.
1t still is true that righteousness
exalteth a nation, but that sin is a
reproach to any people. And since
the princes of the land as the lead
ers will frequently personify the
people of the land as the followers,
happy is that nation whieh has
godly governors.
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