The Slippery Slope of One More

Day Sixty-Three

The Slippery Slope of One More (Read Proverbs 23:29-35)

"O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil." ~ William Shakespeare

Scripture: Proverbs 23:29-35 (NLT)

²⁹ Who has anguish? Who has sorrow?
    Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining?
    Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
³⁰ It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns,
    trying out new drinks.
³¹ Don't gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is,
    how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down.
³² For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake;
    it stings like a viper.
³³ You will see hallucinations,
    and you will say crazy things.
³⁴ You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea,
    clinging to a swaying mast.
³⁵ And you will say, "They hit me, but I didn't feel it.
    I didn't even know it when they beat me up.
When will I wake up
    so I can look for another drink?"

Reflection:

This passage offers a sobering reflection on the dangers of alcohol abuse and the cunning, baffling, and powerful nature of just one more. It begins with a series of piercing questions that describe the deep anguish, sorrow, and physical damage that often accompany a life of drinking to excess. The image painted here is one of a person trapped in a cycle of delusion and misery, constantly seeking comfort in the very thing that causes their suffering and will eventually kill them if left untreated.

The description of the wine—how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down—captures the initial appeal of alcohol. It tempts with its beauty and promise of pleasure, but the warning is clear: the end result is as deadly as a poisonous snake. What begins as an attractive escape quickly becomes a painful and destructive trap. King Alcohol promises happiness but delivers misery. It promises life but produces death.

The passage goes on to describe the effects of intoxication: hallucinations, irrational behavior, twisted perceptions, and a hopeless state of mind and body that leads to physical harm. The imagery of a person staggering like a sailor in a storm ("They are as drunk as a sailor," ever heard that saying before?), clinging to a swaying mast, illustrates the instability and danger of a life ruled by alcohol. Despite the apparent harm, the person is so trapped that they wake up only to seek another drink, trapped in a cycle of powerlessness and suffering from the delusion of the slippery slope of one more they can't break.

The more profound message here is a warning against temptation that promises temporary pleasure but leads to lasting harm. It's a call to wisdom to see beyond the immediate allure of indulgence and recognize the bitter consequences that follow. This truth applies to all worldly vices; they promise the moon and stars and leave you powerless and enslaved, possibly for the rest of your life.

"Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness." ~ Seneca the Younger

Reflection Questions:

• Are there areas in your life where you feel tempted by things that seem appealing on the surface but have harmful and possibly deadly consequences?
• When did you last pray for the wisdom and strength to resist these temptations and the courage to seek accountability if necessary?
• If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol or any other addiction, consider reaching out for support and guidance through a trusted friend, pastor, or support group. Do you know who to call?

Suppose you can't stop drinking and have a desire to stop; please call Alcoholics Anonymous; they have a solution and a program of action that works if you work it. If you are the spouse, partner, sibling, parent, or friend of someone who can't stop drinking and using, please get in touch with the Alanon Family Group and go to a meeting. You'll meet people you can identify with and who have discovered victory over the illness of alcoholism and addiction.

Prayer:

Lord, open our eyes to the dangers of temptation and give us the strength to resist the things that lead us away from You. Help us to seek fulfillment in Your presence rather than in temporal pleasures that bring only pain and suffering. Guide us in wisdom so we can live lives that honor You and protect our bodies and minds from harm. In Jesus' name, Amen.

May God bless your hearing, understanding, and application of today's wisdom.