ALCOHOL: Have You Counted the Cost?
Gospel Tract and Bible Society
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contention? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder” (Proverbs 23:29-32).
The Bible portrays a very true picture of the lover of alcohol.
Woe, sorrow, babbling, wounds, and much more could be added to the list of woes of those who tarry at the wine.
Many respectable people have become degraded human beings through the use of alcohol, abusing their families, stealing, murdering, and being unfaithful to their marriage vows.
Many young wives and husbands at the marriage altar look forward to the life of companionship and trust, only to have alcohol shatter the possibilities of a happy life.
Some spouses turn to gambling.
The little children are neglected, left homeless and unloved.
Hard-earned money needed for necessities is wasted.
Alas, that first drink was carelessly and casually taken. Now the one who drank it is captured, an alcoholic and a drunkard, wounding himself, bring grief and pain to dear ones.
The bar is that fateful meeting place for man and alcohol. The bar bars the door to heaven, for drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Read 1 Corinthians 6:10) “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap (Galatians 6:7).
A BAR
A place where strong drink is sold is sometimes called a Bar, that’s true,
A BAR to heaven, a door to hell;
Whoever named it, named it well.
A BAR to manliness and wealth;
A door to want and broken health.
A BAR to honor, pride and fame;
A door to grief and sin and shame.
A BAR to home and a BAR to prayer;
A door to darkness and despair.
A BAR to honored, useful life;
A door to brawling, senseless strife,
A BAR to all that’s true and brave;
A door to every drunkard’s grave.
A BAR to joys that home imparts;
A door to tears and aching hearts.
A BAR to heaven, a door to hell;
Whoever named it, named it will.
“And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken” (Matthew 24:49).
“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkeness” (Romans 13:13).
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest . . . Envyings, murders, drunkeness, revellings, and such the like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19,21).
Should you suddenly find yourself at the door of eternity, where would you go? Death as a shadow is ever beside us.
Come to Jesus with your sins and evil habits. He shed His blood and died a cruel death on the cross, giving Himself as a ransom for even the chiefest of sinners. Repent of your sins, confess them, forsake them.
You cannot break the chains of this habit without the help of God. Ask Jesus your Savior to help you. He will if you come to Him with all your heart.
“Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
The above article, “Alcohol: Have You Counted the Cost?” is written by Gospel Tract and Bible Society. The article was excerpted from a pamphlet published by the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.
The material is most likely copyrighted and should not be reprinted under any other name or author. However, this material may be freely used for personal study or research purposes.
This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”
