Proverbs 31:6,7

Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.

Interesting that humankind hasn’t changed much in a few thousand years. Alcohol is still used today by many to forget their woes and to put a different view on life for a period of time, for however long the effects are with them. King Lemuel’s mother recognised and knew that alcohol would affect her son the same, if he chose to partake of it, and she wanted to bring him up, above that level, reminding him who he was and his place in life. It wasn’t that she didn’t want him to have wine, but rather that he should refrain from partaking in anything that would impair his judgement and make him forget things of importance. This is why she told him in an earlier verse that kings and rulers should not drink wine or crave beer.

These verses, along with others in the bible, both Old and New Testaments, serve to remind us that anything allowed to control us, or become our master, is done to our detriment.

Prayer: Father, we seek your guidance, and your help in those things that we’ve allowed take hold in our lives – things that have gotten between You and ourselves. We pray that you will show us the way to break free of those bondages and place You back in our lives at the helm.

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7 Responses to “Proverbs 31:6,7”

  1. Orikinla Osinachi Says:

    Thank you very much.

    But should christians work for producers of Alcohol?

    Many christians work for breweries and Distillers.

    God bless.

  2. proverbs31 Says:

    Throughout history many of God’s people have worked in areas that haven’t been favourable – at least in the eyes of man. If a Christian is in close constant contact with God and alcohol is not his master, then I don’t think it should be a problem. It’s not the alcohol that’s the problem, its man’s misuse of it. Thanks for visiting Orikinla.

  3. Charley Says:

    I take a stand on sound Biblical Truth on this scripture. It was not until I grew in my faith that God opened my eyes to the many scriptures on drinking. I have been studying alcohol in the Bible for a few years now since I realized that drinking alcohol is not sin Biblically. Kings are not to drink alcohol for judgments’ sake. Judging the people he needed a clear and undisturbed mind. This is a command to kings in the Bible.
    If people are suffering with affliction, depression, bitterness of heart and so on alcohol can be used as a relief from such suffering.
    The apostle Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomaches sake and his FREQUENT infirmities. Timothy was an overseer simular to a Pastor. Frequent in my understanding is often. God created the world and everything in it and said it was good.
    One persons faith permits him/her to drink and another mans/womans faith does not.
    God told the same person at some times to abstain from alcohol, and at another time in their life told them to drink. There is a time and season for everything under the sun. To one to drink it is sin to another it is permissible. Let each one determine in his heart and conchice sake what is permissible and what is not. Is it not God that justifies, and not man or woman?
    And we are not to condemn or judge someones views that it is not permissible or to condemn or judge the one that drinking alcohol is permissible.
    Biblically it comes down to the weak and strong in faith.
    We are not to drink to excess which implies being drunk all the time. All things are good in moderation and everything has a use under the sun.
    Charley

  4. CY Lee Says:

    Charley,

    Drinking is sin Biblically.

    Paul warns that drunkards will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10; cf. Gal 5:19-21). Depression and poverty are no license to sin.

    Paul is clear about the act of drinking. He says drinking is an act of the sinful nature.

    I wish you would support your ideas with the Bible verses next time you write something.

    -CY

  5. proverbs31 Says:

    Not everyone who drinks wine is a drunkard CY Lee. And don’t forget that Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into the finest wine for the wedding.

    Drinking alcohol, when it’s out of control or allowed to become a master of you is the sin, but alcohol now and then is not a problem for the majority of people.

  6. Grace Says:

    CY – the rest of the scripture you are citing warns that “people who LIVE like this” will not inherit the kingdom. There are other sinful “LIFESTYLES” that Paul warns us about.

    Even if someone did try to entertain alcohol and got drunk, God will look to see if their heart is repentant (not a mocking heart…hence, God will forgive me if I decide to get drunk) about the episode and forgive them.

    The God you talk of is not that harsh – it’s all a matter of the heart and how we choose to LIVE. For some, it will take a long time to figure if alcohol is good or not. Too many Christians are already across a line, but justify it. That’s Satan for ya. He’s not after unbelievers, he has them. He’s after us and will use whatever he can to take us down.

    Everything is permissable, but not everything is beneficial. Those who are filled with the Spirit will be convicted of their sinful lifestyle and hopefully repent. Sometimes, that’s difficult, but again, God sees our heart about it.

  7. CY Says:

    I agree with you all, Grace and proverbs31. However, Grace, the definition of repenting is “turning away from sin” (Merriam-Webster). So repenting isn’t just about feeling guilty and sorry to God, but it’s actually turning away from your sin and not coming back to it. So people who continuously drink probably will not inherit the Kingdom of God since they have not repented their sins.
    Furthermore, according to 1 Corinthians 10:13, “God will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” Yes, God sees our heart, but we always have to remember that we have no excuse for continuously repeating our sins since God never let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
    Although I’ve always thought that drinking is a sin, now I do agree that drinking itself is not a sin. However, according to Hebrews 12:1, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” If alcohol helps people in their relationship with Jesus Christ and carrying out His will, sure. Go ahead and have some. However, I’m a college student and I’ve seen so many people getting drunk and came up with a conclusion for myself that drinking usually hinders us, not helps us, with our relationship with Jesus Christ. If you’re drinking in order to build a relationship with other non-Christians and trying to evangelize them, I think drinking isn’t hindering you because you are drinking in order to carry out what God wants you to do with your life–making the disciples of all nations. However, if you’re just drinking for fun and entertainment, I think there’s a problem with that.
    But, once again, I agree with you all, but I’m just adding onto your comments. And thank you for your ideas–they have widened my view on drinking alcohol.

    -CY

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