Are you a victim of bad habits? This Wisdom of Proverbs points out 2 bad habits to avoid. Strangely enough, habitually drinking too much (alcoholic beverages) and eating too much food are bad habits! Indulging in these bad habits will end badly. Be a wise child of God, use self-control, and avoid drinking and eating too much.

Habits: Warning, You Must Avoid These 2 Bad Ways!

STM Bible Lesson

Lesson focus: Proverbs 23:19-21. Bible lesson background: Extract from ‘A Brief Guide to A.A.:’
1. For many years, alcoholism has been recognized as a highly prevalent and disabling health problem, one that affects far more than just the alcoholic alone. Family, friends, and others are hurt by its effects — in the home, on the job, on our highways and roads. Alcoholism costs lives, as well as costing communities millions of dollars. So, whether or not you ever become an alcoholic yourself, alcoholism can still have a devastating impact on your life.
2. From Overeaters Anonymous (OA): There are OA groups in over 75 countries meeting in person, via telephone, and through the internet each week. OA’s 60-year history has shown that it is possible to recover from the disease of compulsive eating. We invite you to join us to find the freedom that many of our members have discovered over the years.

You can avoid bad habits

Proverbs 23:19-21 [read Proverbs 23:19-21]

Listen, my child, and be wise. Keep your mind on what is right. 20 Don’t be one of those who drink too much wine or who eat too much food. 21 Those who drink too much and eat too much become poor. They sleep too much and end up wearing rags. (CEV)

KJV: Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. 20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Riotous eaters of flesh

No, this is not talking about cannibals! ☺ In modern English, this means those who habitually eat too much food. To better understand this, verse 21 points out that a person who does this is a ‘glutton’. In fact, the word ‘glutton’ implies greed.

‘Guide thine heart in the way’. This has such a poetic flair, but it means to keep your mind on what is right. My favorite Bible meaning is from Good News Translation: ‘Give serious thought to the way you live’. Another way to look at this is to be mindful of living right to please God.

“Stop their bad ways and live”

Ezekiel 18:23 [read Ezekiel 18:19-32 (23)]

I do not really want the wicked to die, says the Lord God. I want them to stop their bad ways and live. (NCV)

KJV: Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

I urge you to think about the things you do and the way you live. Get rid of bad habits.

Thank God for grace

Did you know the Law required that a ‘glutton and a drunkard’ be stoned (hit with stones) to death? The parents of a ‘rebellious (disobedient) son’ were to take their son to ‘elders’ and say “he is a glutton and a drunkard.” ‘All the men of his city shall stone him with stones’.

Deuteronomy 21:20-21 [read Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (20-21)]

They must say to the leaders of the town: ‘Our son is stubborn and refuses to obey. He does not do anything we tell him to do. He eats and he drinks too much.’ 21 Then the men in the town must kill the son with stones. By doing this you will remove this evil from your group. Everyone in Israel will hear about this and be afraid. (ERV)

KJV: And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 21 And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Gluttons and greedy people want, eat, and get more than they need. Avoid overeating and all forms of overdoing it!

False teachers, slaves to greed

Peter is talking about false teachers who were in bondage to money (2 Peter 2:3, 14) and material things. A bad habit that many struggle with.

2 Peter 2:19-20 [read 2 Peter 2:18-22 (19-20)]

They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of destructive habits — for we are slaves of anything that has conquered us. 20 If people have escaped from the corrupting forces of the world through their knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then are again caught and conquered by them, such people are in worse condition at the end than they were at the beginning. (GNT)

KJV: Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Note: Using substances that alter your way of thinking is not a good habit for you. As a matter of fact, I am clean and sober since March 1977. I speak from experience. Thank you, Lord, for removing the appetite for drugs and alcohol. Both WERE bad habits that made me someone I was not proud of.

Winebibbers

What is a winebibber? Don’t feel bad if you don’t know. I didn’t know either until I did some research. A short answer is a person or people who drink too much wine; a drunkard or an alcoholic.

Be wise my friends, the Bible advises us to avoid people who habitually drink too much, see . More importantly, you should not allow this bad habit in your life. Alcoholics will not live forever with the Lord, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

1 Corinthians 5:11 [read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 (11)]

But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person. (CSB)

KJV: But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

Our World in Data Statistics 2022

Globally, alcohol consumption causes 2.8 million premature deaths per year. 74% of those who die are younger than 70 years. Some of the most common symptoms of alcohol abuse are [from ‘Alcohol Rehab Guide’):]

• Experiencing temporary blackouts or short-term memory loss.
• Exhibiting signs of irritability and extreme mood swings.
• Making excuses for drinking such as to relax, deal with stress or feel normal.
• Choosing drinking over other responsibilities and obligations.
• Becoming isolated and distant from friends and family members.
• Drinking alone or in secrecy.
• Feeling hungover when not drinking.
• Changing your appearance and the group of acquaintances you hang out with.

Lazy gluttons

Titus 1:12-14 [read Titus 1:10-16 (12-14)]

Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.” 13 This is true. So reprimand them sternly to make them strong in the faith. 14 They must stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who have turned away from the truth. (NLT)

KJV: One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; 14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.

Life Application Bible Commentary: Lazy gluttons identifies the false teachers as lovers of dishonest gain. Rather than make an honest living, they preferred to prosper from their false teaching.

Deloitte Access Economics Statistics 2020

It was estimated that 28.8 million Americans alive in 2018-19 will have an ED (eating disorder) at some point during their life – either in the past, present, or future.

The total financial costs associated with EDs were estimated to be $64.7 billion in 2018-19, which equates to $11,808 per person with an ED.

Bad Habits

As a final point, indulging in these bad habits will end badly. But God gave us the help that we need, self-control!

2 Timothy 1:7 [read 2 Timothy 1:3-7 (7)]

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control]. (AMP)

KJV: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1 Thessalonians 5:8-9 [read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (8-9)]

Since we belong to the day, let’s stay sober (self-controlled), wearing faithfulness and love as a piece of armor that protects our body and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 God didn’t intend for us to suffer his wrath but rather to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. (CEB)

KJV: Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

A call to holy living

1 Peter 1:13-16 [read 1 Peter 1:13-21 (13-16)]

So prepare your minds for service and have self-control. All your hope should be for the gift of grace that will be yours when Jesus Christ is shown to you. 14 Now that you are obedient children of God do not live as you did in the past. You did not understand, so you did the evil things you wanted. 15 But be holy in all you do, just as God, the One who called you, is holy. 16 It is written in the Scriptures: “You must be holy, because I am holy” [Leviticus 11:45; 19:2; 20:7]. (NCV)

KJV: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Are you a victim of bad habits? Be a wise child of God, I urge you to use self-control and avoid drinking and eating too much. You can avoid bad habits with the help of the Lord. He gave you self-control, please use it! I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺

Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:

Self-control; Take Control Now with This Gift From God – an estimated 19-minute read.

Greed – God’s Children Should Not Be Greedy, Are You? – an estimated 13-minute read.

Christian Life: A Life in Christ Full of Love – an estimated 32-minute read.

Godly Wisdom: 5 Really Simple Steps To This Ability – an estimated 25-minute read.

Resources

Eating Disorders Resource Centers

Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution

See the latest on the Sound Truth Ministry website.

I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing tim@stministry.com. Have a fantabulous day!