How can we avoid being "given to drunkenness" in our daily lives? Setting the Standard: 1 Timothy 3:3 “not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, peaceable, and free of the love of money.” • The Spirit, through Paul, lists sobriety as a basic qualification for leadership—and therefore a non-negotiable virtue for every believer who desires Christlike maturity. • “Not given to” speaks of habit, pattern, or addiction. The call is to keep alcohol from mastering us in any measure. Seeing the Danger of Drunkenness • Proverbs 20:1 — “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” • Proverbs 23:29-32 — the immediate misery and long-term bite of alcohol abuse. • Hosea 4:11 — “promiscuity, wine, and new wine take away understanding.” • Drunkenness clouds judgment, ignites other sins, damages witness, and dishonors Christ. Choosing the Better Filling: The Holy Spirit • Ephesians 5:18 — “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” • Being Spirit-filled isn’t a mystical occasional event; it is a moment-by-moment surrender that leaves no room for competing controls. • Joy, peace, and boldness come from the Spirit, not the bottle (Acts 4:31; Romans 14:17). Cultivating Daily Self-Control • Galatians 5:22-23 — self-control is fruit the Spirit produces as we walk with Him. • Titus 2:11-12 — grace “trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.” Practical rhythms: – Begin each day committing body and mind to Christ (Romans 12:1). – Fast periodically from enjoyable, lawful things; it strengthens the muscle of restraint (1 Corinthians 9:27). – Memorize verses that confront temptation (Psalm 119:11). Guarding Our Influences • 1 Corinthians 15:33 — “Bad company corrupts good character.” • Proverbs 13:20 — “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.” Evaluate: – Media that normalizes excessive drinking. – Social circles centered on nightlife. – Home habits that make alcohol the default relaxer. Setting Practical Boundaries • Proverbs 23:20-21 warns against even “joining” those who overindulge. Helpful boundaries many believers adopt: – Clarify before events how much, if any, alcohol will be consumed. – Never drink alone. – Stop well before feeling the slightest buzz. – Keep no surplus supply at home if it stumbles you. – Substitute sparkling water, coffee, or another enjoyable beverage in social settings. Walking in Accountability • James 5:16 — “confess your sins to one another…” • Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 — two are better than one for lifting a fallen brother. Steps: – Invite a trusted believer to ask direct, ongoing questions. – Share victories and failures without delay. – Attend a biblically faithful support group if patterns have already formed. Honoring the Temple God Gave Us • 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — the body is the Spirit’s temple, bought with Christ’s blood; we glorify God by caring for it. • Sound sleep, balanced nutrition, and exercise often reduce the stress triggers that push many toward alcohol. Keeping an Eternal Perspective • 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 — “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober… let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet of our hope of salvation.” • Romans 13:13-14 — living “decently as in the daytime” means clothing ourselves with Christ and making “no provision for the desires of the flesh.” • A clear mind watches for the Lord’s return and serves His kingdom with undivided devotion. With hearts set on Christ, empowered by the Spirit, and strengthened by wise habits and community, every believer can walk in lasting freedom from being “given to drunkenness.” |
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