September 20, 2026

Dangers of Drinking #

Proverbs 23:29-30-35

Introduction

Some years ago I was preaching through the book of Proverbs. I came across this incredible passage dealing with wine, alcohol and strong drink. The application can be made to any drug that impairs your ability to think clearly.

If you are driving a car and found to be driving under the influence, in Ohio, it is called OVI (Operating a vehicle under the influence). Any drug that impairs your ability to think clearly and react appropriately.

A quick search gave me these, Cocaine, Methamphetamine, Heroin (Opioids), Fentanyl (Opioids), and one that I think has become more popular and even legalized, Marijuana (THC).

Modern christianity wants to say ‘social drinking is fine’. Modern christianity is always pushing to allow ‘soft sin’, and do more with their liberty and grace. It is sickening, and honestly makes God sick. There are groups called, Pastors and brew, or Bible and Beers. I bet they don’t study this passage!

The principles in the Word of God paint a very clear portrait of why that is a problem. There is not a more clear passage of Scripture on the dangers of wine, alcohol, and drunkenness. Many who grew up with a drunk or have had their life impacted by alcohol can tell you first hand how damaging alcohol can be.

Let’s take an honest look at what the Bible says. Open your mind, open your heart, take a moment to learn truthfully what the Bible says.

Japanese proverb: “First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man.”

I. Agony Caused (29, 32-34) #

A. Poverty (21) #

How many families are left without because a parent wasted the money on alcohol…

B. Pain (29) Three areas #

i. Emotional State (woe, sorrow) (29) #

Woe – a condition of deep suffering from affliction or grief
Drunkard
Family (spouse, children, father, mother etc)

Families broken by alcohol, fightings, jail, jobs lost
The burden of police work is greater because of drugs & alcohol, ER, Drs, nurses etc

iii. Physical Health (wounds, redness of eyes) #

29 – wounds without a cause, redness of eyes
- Impairment causes accidents, falling, dying in water, freezing, injuries etc.
- It physically destroys your body. (red eyes)
32 – biteth like a serpent, stingeth like an adder

serpent – isn’t an animal to have

- subtil – deceitful, treacherous

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” (Genesis 3:1)

adder – venomous snake

C. Perversity (33) (eyes, heart utter) #

i. Alcohol perverts the thoughts, and corrupts the act #

D. Path of foolishness (34) (lie in the sea) #

II. Addictive (35) #

A. Dependent #

Addicted – physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance.
Your body can become addicted to alcohol, and you will not be able to function without alcohol!

Is 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

i. It impairs your judgement! #

Isaiah 28:7–8 —7 But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, They are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. 8 For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, So that there is no place clean.

Alcohol and drugs impairs your ability to reason, and think clearly, and causes you to seek it before it has every fully worn off!

ii. It is deceptive #

Proverbs 20:1 — Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

You are not strong enough! Don’t be deceived!

B. Seeking #

i. Continue to look for alcohol, or think about it till the next time they can drink. #

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

ii. Don’t be ruled by it #

Romans 6:12–14 —12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

III. Alarm (Pro 23:20-21, 31) #

A. Don’t Start! (20-21) #

i. Don’t hang around it! #

Sometimes family gatherings start good, but the first bottle that comes out, leave.

ii. First drink impairs one’s thinking #

1Pet. 5:8 ¶ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

sober – not intoxicated or not drunken
Japanese proverb: “First the man takes a drink; then the drink takes a drink; then the drink takes the man.”

iii. Christians should not be controlled by alcohol #

Eph. 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

If you never take that first drink, you will never have to worry about drunkenness
Where is the line to drunkenness? One drink, two?

iv. Christians should abstain from all appearances of evil #

1Th. 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

B. Look (31) #

If you don’t look at it, you will not be tempted by it!
Satan convinced Eve to look at the fruit in Gen 3:6 “pleasant to the eyes”
- All the advertisements make alcohol look sooo good!
- Beer commercials are usually the best during the Super bowl… why???
- It is not a new idea, it is called temptation!

C. Lust (33) #

If you don’t think it is that bad, you will be tempted

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Peter 2:11)