Wine and Strong Drink
What does the Bible say about wine and strong drink? The nation of Israel always used wine in its religious observances and Jesus kept the Jewish customs of His day (Lev. 23:13; Matt. 11:19). Wine was prescribed as a tonic for people to avoid sickness and for first aid purposes (1 Tim. 5:23; Luke 10:34). Jesus Christ’s first miracle was at the wedding feast when He made 180 gallons of wine from water (John 2:1-11).
God allowed His nation of Israel to drink wine and strong drink if they chose to do so (Deut. 14:26) People will have their own vineyards during the thousand-year reign of Christ on this earth, as Noah did (Prov. 3:10; Amos 9:14; Rev. 20:6). Noah, by the way, was a completed man of God (Gen. 6:9). Noah and Lot got drunk on wine (Gen. 9:20-21; 19:33). But both were still considered righteous by God and in a saved condition because they did not practice drunkenness (Gen. 7:1; Ezek. 14:14). “Drink your wine with a cheerful heart,” God’s instruction book on living says in Ecclesiastes 9:7.
Much attention is given to the Last Supper when Jesus Christ said He would no longer partake of the fruit of the vine until His return. The beverage used for the Lord’s Supper is often wrongly assumed to be grape juice. One need only look to see what Jesus Christ will be serving at the wedding supper of the Lamb to decide what the fruit of the vine is. It is refined, aged wine (Is. 25:6).
A person shouldn’t be upset by this because God is not upset by the drinking of wine. But God is upset with man’s sin and with man saying that to drink wine is sin, when God says no such thing. God even prophesied in His word that false ministers would speak against the use of wine and liquor, and people would make them their ministers or spokesmen (Micah 2:11). How dare people speak against what God has allowed in His word. Saying it is wrong to drink alcoholic beverages is starting another commandment or precept of men; and when you do that, you begin to worship God in vain (Mark 7:7).
The word of God stresses moderation in all things, but not abstinence in regard to wine and strong drink (1 Tim. 3:3, 8). God says, “Give strong drink to a man who is perishing and wine to him whose life is bitter” (Prov. 31:6; Psalm 104:15). The Bible also warns of over-imbibing, and of hanging around with heavy drinkers of wine or gluttonous eaters of meat (Prov. 23:20, 29-35). It tells you not to get intoxicated with wine (Prov. 20:1).
If you were to think your own thoughts and live your own ungodly way of life, it would be wise not to drink at all. However, if you are living your life to please God every day by living His Way and practicing moderation in all things, wine or strong drink could be very beneficial. Wine and strong drink, like brandy, are healthy for the blood and can be an aid to those who are sick (1 Tim. 5:23). We do not want to fall into the trap of believing we are more righteous than Jesus Christ, as the Pharisees did when their self-righteous doctrine turned into leaven or sin (Matt. 15:8-9; 16:6, 12).
Of course, you shouldn’t drink wine or do other things you are free to do in Christ, when it would offend someone. Yet, this is no reason to totally abstain either. Let all things be done in love, in balance and in moderation, which is pleasing to the Lord (1 Cor. 16:14; Eph. 5:10).
If you have had trouble in the past and have become an alcoholic, or suffered in other ways from your misuse of this privilege, then maybe it would be wise not to drink alcoholic beverages any longer. You can live without it.