Ephesians 5:18
“And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”
We focused on the first half of the verse the other day. The middle part gives a reason not to get drunk with wine. It says getting drunk is debauchery, which is indulging in sensuality and lust.
God gave us our senses to understand and to enjoy life. However, sensuality over indulges in some senses in a way that is sinful. Gluttony is an example of sensuality. Eating is amazing, however an over focus on food is unhealthy. It results in being out of balance and wrecking our health.
Sensuality is idolatry. We are putting something ahead of God. This is breaking a commandment. We are over focusing on pleasure. It’s crossing a line.
John 8:34 says, ‘Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”‘ When we over indulge, we are becoming enslaved. In a sense we are becoming addicts. That’s a dramatic term that gets our attention. Some are more prone towards it. Some need groups and programs to break free from it. The Lord saves them through those groups.
Another area where people get enslaved is through sex. Our culture has a heavy emphasis on it. They celebrate and encourage it. Our culture seems to want to sexualize our children. That’s a big problem. Why would they seek to awaken sexual appetites at a younger age? Very strange. God has a problem with that as well. Jesus says in Luke 17:2, “It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.”
The focus of today’s verse is getting drunk. One more area of over indulgence. Drinking is another area that can cross over to abuse. Just like the other areas, this can lead to slavery and idolatry.
God gave us food, sex and wine for our pleasure. But to over focus on them can lead to problems. Freedom is big with God. He created those things as well as our appetites. He wants us to enjoy them. A balanced life does so. Without these, life would be more bland. To offer these was important to God for us to enjoy life.
We need to balance these things in a loving way. When we first addressed this verse a few days ago, we spoke of how we need to walk in love. Meaning our use of these things can stumble another. If they have a problem with these things, we need to watch our use of them or avoid them when in their presence.
God works with us in different ways. We are to follow the Holy Spirit and His nudging with us. This is calling walking in the Spirit. Love is prominent and avoiding idolatry is another. If these are in balance, we are to enjoy ourselves.
Lord, thank You for the good things in life. Thank You, also, that You help us to keep these in balance. Life is so great and these are a part of it. Thank You for it and them.