Wisdom Quest VII- Zeal, Beer and the King

I'm continuing my study on the book of Proverbs.  I've chosen one proverb from each of the three chapters I read this week.

Proverbs 19
"It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor to be hasty and miss the way."  Proverbs 19:2

I love watching someone do what they're passionate about.  Passion is an important aspect of being successful in whatever it is that you're doing.  Passion alone, however, is a waste; passion must be coupled with knowledge.  Likewise, knowledge without passion isn't much good either.  Our life and our faith must have knowledge and zeal together.

Fools rush in and the stagnate have no heart; but the victorious have passion and knowledge married.

Proverbs 20
"Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise." Proverbs 20:1

If I had to make a rule regarding alcohol that everyone had to follow it would be this: Don't drink.  Luckily no one has put me on the Over Reaching Rule Committee.  I, like many of you, drink beer or wine on occasion and enjoy them both.  I, like many of you, am appalled by the damage alcohol has caused many people.  I have seen lives ruined by drinking, but at the same time the Bible tells us that wine and beer are a pleasure from God.

Here's my general rule: Have a drink, don't let the drink have you.  When the drink has us we lose control.  Drunkenness takes away our mind but not our passion; it puts us in direct violation of the advice given in the the previous proverb I wrote about.  Beer can give us beer muscles that cause fights.  Wine can make us say things we regret.  Wine and beer are for our pleasure but a pleasure misused is a sin and it will hurt us and those around us.  If alcohol has control of your life, in any way, give it up.  If you do drink, please drink in a matter that pleases God, not just in a way you think He can tolerate.

Proverbs 21
"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD;
He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases."  Proverbs 21:1

Our leaders, whether good or bad, are tools of God.  Does this mean that all of our leaders do what is right in the eyes of the LORD?  No.  But this does mean that God will accomplish His purposes using the leader(s) that He has put in place.

Christians living in a republic/democracy, this means that we vote and are active in government but it also means we aren't afraid when things go against us and our party.  We never have to fear that our leaders will stand in God's way.  George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were leaders that accomplished the will of God; Pharaoh Ramses and Pontius Pilate also were leaders that accomplished the will of God.  We Christians must trust in God's omnipotent sovereignty more than in the effectiveness, or lack there of, of our politicians.

So, have zeal and knowledge together in your life.  Beware of alcohol and it's effects on you; don't let the drink have you.  And have faith in God, not fear of man.

Live wisely today.