Jesus is known by many names
including The Great Physician. He has
given us a diagnosis called sin that, if left untreated, leads to eternal
death. However, even when we have been
healed from that dire outcome, we still have remnants of the disease in our
system. How we deal with our chronic
condition makes all the difference. Let’s look at it from two sides – when we
self-medicate and when we follow the Doctor’s orders.
Proverbs
23:20-21: Do not join
those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat,
for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Things to think about:
· When we are
lonely, tired, depressed, angry, hungry, etc., we can be tempted to take
matters into our own hands. This
self-medication frequently takes three forms:
o
Food
o
Alcohol/Drugs
o
Sex
· Each of these
can makes us feel better in the moment but can come at a very high cost, both
physically and emotionally
o
Food and Alcohol
§ Proverbs
23:20-21 - Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
o
Alcohol
§ Proverbs 20:1
- Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
o
Sex
§ Proverbs 23:27-28
- for an adulterous woman is a deep pit, and a wayward wife is a narrow
well.
Like a bandit she lies in wait and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
· It’s not hard
to see that “there is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it leads
to death”
· God’s
Prescription
o
His Word
§ Matthew 4:4 -
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on
every word that comes from the mouth of God.’
o
His Spirit
§ Ephesians
5:18 - Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to
debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit
o
His People
§ Genesis 2:18
- The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will
make a helper suitable for him.”
§ Proverbs
17:17 - A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
· God’s Way is
Better
o
1 Corinthians 9:27 - No, I strike a blow to my body and make
it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be
disqualified for the prize.
§ V.25 - We do
it to get a crown that will last forever
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