Being Mrs. McCann: Matthew

Saturday, October 22, 2011

31 Days of Virtue: Day 22

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Titus 2:3

I think it is safe to say that being addicted to alcohol is never a good thing. Alcohol itself though can have a few benefits though. According to WebMD.com "Alcohol also can have a very powerful effect and increase HDL "good" cholesterol by 20% if used moderately and in the context of a healthy diet along with regular physical activity, says Rimm. Higher HDL levels are linked to lower risks of heart disease."

Did you catch that? If you want to drink alcohol, you also need to have a healthy diet and regular physical activity. Some people might say that drinking a glass of wine a day is okay. This website agrees that it is okay to have 1 glass a day. Moderation is the key here. It is never okay to get drunk. This website also mentions that it is more important and healthier to have fruits and vegetables than alcohol.

Now what does the Bible say about drinking?

Matthew 11:19 says, "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinner".' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Yes, the Bible does say that Jesus drank; however, it also says in Proverbs 20:1, "Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise."

Isaiah 5:11-12 says, "Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine. They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the LORD, no respect for the work of His hands."

Later in Isaiah 5:22 the Bible says, "Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks..."

So, in summary, the Bible does say that Jesus drank alcohol, but more often it says that alcohol and wine is not good and can be dangerous.

Personally, I don't drink alcohol and have never really had a desire to drink alcohol. If you don't already drink alcohol, I think it is better to keep it that way than to start and take the risk of it leading to an addiction. As virtuous women, we have to keep our actions in check, and getting drunk on the weekends - either at a friend's house or in public - is not something we want to happen.

Archive of 31 Days of Virtue:

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

31 Days of Virtue: Day 18

So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. 1 Timothy 5:14

Another important part of this verse to remember is 'to give the enemy no opportunity for slander'. We must always watch ourselves. The Bible says in Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." We must always watch our actions and pray for God's strength. If you know doing a certain thing or going to a certain place will bring temptation, why do that thing or go to that place? That's just asking for trouble.

There will always be temptations, and they always lead to death. "When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers." James 1:13-16. Don't be deceived! Satan knows every evil desire in you and will use it against you!

So what do we do? Luke 6:45 says, "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." We store up good in our hearts. We think about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). We set our "minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2). And we put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-17): the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, with our feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

That is how we will give the enemy no opportunity for slander: with God's armor, not our own.

Archive of 31 Days of Virtue: