Of Wine and Idolatry

Do not look on the wine when it is red,

When it sparkles in the cup,

When it swirls around smoothly;

At the last it bites like a serpent,

And stings like a viper.

Proverbs 23:31-32

While the choice to drink alcohol is an area of liberty in Scripture there is no question at all that drunkenness is outside of God’s will for mankind.  There is an interesting feature in the process of addiction wherein the substance in question becomes truly beautiful to the addicted person.  Once this goes further it becomes the only beautiful or attractive thing.  Whether that be alcohol, caffeine or any other substance or behavior that we may become dependent upon, aside from dependence upon the Lord.  Alcohol is and obvious addiction but there are several other potential addictions that can be just as destructive such as drugs, television, pornography, or exercise and diet.  There are any number of things which can slowly but surely move from their place as a good thing to something deeply admired, to something that is idolized.  The subtle process of slipping into idolatry is a gradual road to destruction that becomes deeply noticeable when we spend time just gazing in awe at that thing – be  it a drug, an activity, a relationship or an action.