Proverbs 10:3-5 

³The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. ⁴Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. ⁵He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

Drunkard

Someone published a picture of a drunkard sleeping on the ground with a bottle of wine in his hand. A caption written next to the sleeping drunkard says, “How can a drunkard find his way to heaven when he can’t even find his home?” Do you know a drunkard who easily finds his way home after getting drunk?

Some experts in the field published many years ago that a glass of wine everyday is good for the health. Yet, this assumption is bravely refuted by other experts in the fields; they say that drinking a little alcohol is bad for the health.

The Scripture teaches that to get drunk with wine is foolishness. We should be filled with the Holy Spirit instead. Together, let us meditate seriously what the Scripture teaches in Ephesians 5:15-20, ¹⁵Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, ²⁰always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is smart and right to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and Christ is the Wisdom of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of wisdom. When the Holy Spirit is active in our life, we become wise in our decision; we choose godly activities. Pray that God always fill you with his Holy Spirit.

Do you think drunkards do not avoid the church? Who assume that they will be required to stop drinking or stop taking their bad vices if they become members of the church? Do they suppose that life without vices is boring?

Someone may ask, “Does the Scripture teach against drinking wine?” It is clear that the Scripture warns against drunkenness. But does it imply that to drink little wine is acceptable to the Lord?” How do you answer such question?

How many drunkards would prioritize that their family will not be hungry?

1.  Hunger

³The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. ⁴Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Drunkards may rationalize that they only spend the excess of their budget for wine. If they have much money for food or basic necessities, it is smarter to invest the excess of their family daily budget or save for rainy days, so they say. Do you know any drunkard who had become rich for spending money for wine?

Earnestly pray to be filled with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation; the Lord helps us consider beneficial activities rather than wasting resources just to satisfy the cravings of the flesh. Let’s reflect on Romans 13:13 (ICB), ¹³Let us live in a right way, as in the daytime. We should not have wild parties or get drunk. There should be no sexual immorality or evil conduct, no fighting or jealousy.

When it says, “Live in a right way” and contrasted to “wild parties and get drunk,” should we interpret it that to get drunk is not righteous way? Wild parties and get drunk are in the same warning against sexual immorality, evil conduct, fighting or jealousy. Those wild behaviors are actually product of drunkenness.

Cheated

A very old man confessed to his wife, “I had cheated one time when we were at a party. I was very drunk, and I slept with a woman in red!” The wife spanked the head of her husband and said, “I was the woman in red you slept with!”

Drunkenness had destroyed many relationships. If you know some children who are hungry because their parents spend their money in wine instead of food, pray that they may come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, be filled with the Holy Spirit and decide to live in the right way. Can you personally identify with what King David testified in Psalm 37:25? ²⁵I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Do you personally interpret that the Holy Spirit revealed to King David that when parents live righteously according to the will of God, their children will not suffer from hunger? Do you know any devout believers who become very poor because they faithfully give the tithes of God? It challenges us in Malachi 3:10-12, ¹⁰Bring to the storehouse a tenth of what you gain. Then there will be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies. “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out more blessings than you have room for. ¹¹I will stop the insects so they won’t eat your crops. The grapes won’t fall from your vines before they are ready to pick,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.

Of course, it is only by faith in the Lord that anyone believes his promise.

As insects destroy crops, bad elements destroy reputation. But when we give his tithes, the Lord promised to prevent pest insects so that we’ll have great harvest.

2,  Harvest

⁵He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.

The Scripture teaches that wise children bring gladness to their parents, and foolish children make their mother cry. Normally, summer is the time for harvest. And it is smart for harvesters to gather crops during harvest time. The term “disgraceful” can be translated as “shameful or disappointment.”

When children sleep, relax, do nothing unproductively during harvest time, they are not smart; they are embarrassing disappointment to their parents.

Together, Let us reflect on the parable of Jesus Christ in Matthew 21:28-32.

²⁸There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.” ²⁹“I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. ³⁰ Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go. ³¹ Which of the two did what his father wanted? “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. ³²For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Did Christ warn against unbelief only? What do you personally understand about the man who sent his sons into the vineyard? Do you interpret it that the man points to God who sent us his children to gather eternal treasures in heaven for ourselves? When we accepted Christ as personal Savior, we accepted him also as Lord. If Christ is our Lord, we have accepted our designation as his servant.

Let’s meditate of what our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded in John 20:21.

²¹Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.

All disciples who are filled with the Holy Spirit sense peace of God, and the result: We actively participate in the ministry that God prepared for us. Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Pray for wisdom to interpret clearly the instruction of the Lord on how you may productively gather eternal treasures for yourselves.

Expect that our Lord Jesus Christ may return any moment from now on.

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