Ephesians 5:18
“And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
Psalm 104:15 says, “And wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man’s heart.” This was the purpose that God created wine. It was meant to be a blessing.
Today’s passage says believers aren’t to get drunk. That’s a commandment. So, there a difference between Psalm 104 and today’s passage. The effects can be felt and enjoyed, but having too much is wrong.
This is a divisive issue in some churches. Some disallow its use completely. Others encourage moderation. Some churches forbid the pastors to drink wine.
Romans 14:21 says, “It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything to cause your brother to stumble.” There are many that drinking alcohol is to be avoided. Having one drink leads to too many. Instead of moderating, they have to avoid it all together. However, if they are in the company of those that are drinking, then they join them. The Romans passage says that this is causing this brother to stumble. Paul says that these are to avoid wine while with this one.
There are other freedoms that should be limited around some people. Drugs, food and sex are three others that are common. Hopefully we know our friends well enough that we are aware which topics should be avoided. They can act like land mines. Invisible until stepped on.
Addictions are the result of the fall. God didn’t intend this. Unfortunately, most of these areas are ones that God intended to be a blessing. Our fallen natures can twist these to be areas that we have difficulty controlling. God will help us. Some times the difficulty becomes so great that complete avoidance is necessary.
The devil uses addictions to destroy people. Unfortunately, he’s quite successful. Our worldly culture distorts these areas as well. They encourage sex outside of marriage along with many other areas that are outside of God’s designed order. Universities also encourage much that our faith tells us to avoid.
Parents are to raise their children in the faith. Some areas have good public schools, while others are hostile to faith. A private school or home schooling might be more appropriate. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” The christian faith is certainly the way. This verse is deeper. It also refers to the individuality of the child. We need to be sensitive to each of our children. Some are athletic, some are more artistic, some are more introverted and so on. Based on their make up, we should open different opportunities to them.
Circling back to today’s verse. God provided some good things to be enjoyed. Life can be difficult, thus areas that were intended to be a blessing can get complicated. We are to walk with God in holiness, love and understanding. We are to raise our children the same way.
Lord, thank You for the good things in life. Thank You that You aide us in balancing them. Help us to train up our children in ways that bring them in Your ways.