DAY 46

Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. - Proverbs 20:1.

Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome - a staggering drunk is not much fun. - Proverbs 20:1 (The Message).

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. Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will utter perverse things. - Proverbs 23:31-33.

In Honolulu, the Blue Tropix Restaurant and Nightclub used to have a “Ladies Night.” On “Ladies Night” women would be admitted without cost to the nightclub while men had to pay a cover charge. However, Blue Tropix is finding it a little more expensive to provide a “Ladies Night” then it did just a few weeks ago. The nightclub advertised their “Ladies Night” on the radio and someone on the Honolulu Liquor Commission heard one of the radio spots. As a result, the Honolulu Liquor Commission investigated and found that there was gender discrimination. Blue Tropix has been fined 500 dollars for their discrimination.

While I was a parole officer, I had several women clients who had an alcohol addiction. One young woman I remember in particular because she shared how on Ladies Night at several bars she could drink as much as she wanted for free. Ladies Night made it much more difficult for her to resist this addiction. I for one would like to see Ladies Nights prohibited by using any legal avenue possible including gender discrimination if necessary. Proverbs 11:22 says, “As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.” When a woman is in the grips of alcohol, she will see the fulfillment of Proverbs 11:22 because alcohol dulls the senses and removes “discretion” bringing about the sickening sight that verse in Proverbs describes.

Substance abuse in any form exacts a terrible price from those in its grip. The question is not whether a person should or should not continue on with such an addiction. The question for most is “How can I escape?” Sadly, too many decide there is no escape and simply continue on in their downward slide into destruction. But there is an escape!! You can escape from substance abuse whether it is an alcohol addiction or some other substance. Jesus is the only answer, the only way of escape. You must turn to Him and immerse yourself in His resources as we are told in Philippians 4:19, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” The Message translates the verse in this way, “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.”

God does have the power to overcome whatever addiction you may have. Will you turn to Him and allow Him to provide for this need that you have in your life? He is standing at the door and knocking and wants to come in (Revelation 3:20). Will you open the door?