Day 198

Avoid Adultery, Drunkenness, and Laziness

Read: Proverbs 22-24

Included in this passage is a departure from the common structure of Proverbs. Along with isolated sayings are longer sections dealing with one subject.

There is a section on adultery (23:26-28). I met a man who when he was young never went to church but read his Bible regularly, especially Proverbs. Once he and his friends were walking along when one suggested they visit a house of prostitution, but this young man refused to go with them because Proverbs had convinced him that this would be folly.

Another second section deals with drunkenness (23:29-35). It begins with a series of questions as to who has a number of related problems and then answers by saying the person who has such problems is the one who drinks too much. Alcoholic drink is so attractive to the physical senses of vision and taste, but “at the last it bites like a serpent, and stings like an adder.” Today multitudes are suffering from that bite. Then follows a vivid description of the sensations of drunkenness concluded by the sad words, “I will seek another drink”! Personally, I am thankful I followed my father’s advice, “Never take the first drink and you will never get drunk.”

Another section deals with laziness describing the way in which it leads to poverty.

PRAYER
Father, deliver people from sexual sin, the misuse of alcohol and drugs and from laziness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.