Read
Words of Wisdom Are Better
1It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.
2An angry ruler
is like a roaring lion—
make either one angry,
and you are dead.
3It makes you look good
when you avoid a fight—
only fools love to quarrel.
Reflect
Wine and anger are dangerous things. You don’t play with them. You don’t take them lightly. You don’t provoke them. It’s necessary to have them under control if you want to avoid serious problems.
Wine has a sneaky way of weakening our inhibitions: those of restraint, respect and of being in control of ourselves. Take away those inhibitions and all sorts of things can happen: mockery, immorality, loss of respect, all sorts of excess, words we later regret, unacceptable behaviour – and the list goes on. Obviously alcohol abuse has to be understood in context. But for many people the dividing line between a glass and a glass too many is difficult to manage. Better to be too cautious than to be careless. Alcohol isn’t to be taken lightly.
Anger is a time bomb which can do a lot of damage. It can show up without warning. It can be unleashed over the slightest thing. When it’s provoked in the case of someone in power (whether king or some other superior) the fallout is all the more significant. In fact, to get angry is associated with stupidity! We’re talking here about anger that’s exaggerated and unnecessary, often associated with quarrels. You know, those famous disputes about someone’s opinion, a rumour, personal convictions, some life incident, accidental mistakes . . . I won’t go on. Perhaps in some cases there would be more honour in not trying to win our personal battle than in wanting to save our personal honour!
Respond
Lord, I realize that danger is always present and I want to live in a way that honours you. I pray that I may grow more and more in control of my life so that I don’t fall into stupid traps. Help me to choose my battles. Amen.
Gérald Emery
Born in Switzerland, Gérald Emery moved to Quebec when he was 18 in order to operate a dairy farm. Six years later, he went into the ministry, serving in Quebec City for six years and in Portneuf for nine years. In addition, he taught for nine years at the bible college (Institut Biblique du Québec) in Longueil. He has been pastor of a church in Gatineau since 2011. Emery holds a bachelor’s degree in theology (BTh) from Eastern Pentecostal Bible College, and he has almost completed his master’s degree, studying at St. Paul University in Ottawa.