Evils of Not
Using Self-Control
Evil Effects of
Alcohol
“Wine is a
mocker and beer a brawler,
whoever is led astray by them
is not wise”
Proverbs 20:1. .
Note – All
intoxicating drinks are deceptive.
They seem to give strength, but in
reality cause weakness; they seem to
create heat, but in fact lower the
general temperature; they seem to
impart vitality, but really destroy
life; they seem to promote happiness,
but cause the greatest unhappiness
and misery. To not be in
self-control, may have attributed
much of the world’s sorrow.
With what sins is
drunkenness classed?
“The acts of the
sinful nature are obvious: sexual
immorality, impurity and debauchery;
idolatry and witchcraft; hatred,
discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions,
factions, and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you as I
did before, that those who live like
this will not inherit the kingdom of
God.”
Galatians 5:19-21.
What is one of the
evil results of not having
self-control?
“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.”
Proverbs 23:20,21.
What are other evil
effects on not having self-control?
“To prostitution,
to old wine and new, which take
away the understanding.”
Hosea 4:11.
“And those also
stagger from wine and reel from beer;
Priest and prophets stagger from beer
and are befuddled with wine; they
reel from beer, they stagger when
seeing visions, they stumble when
rendering decisions.” Isaiah
28:7.
What are common
accompaniments of not having
self-control?
“Who has woes?
Who has sorrow? Who has strife?
Who has complaints? Who has
needless bruises? Who has bloodshot
eyes? Those who linger after wine,
who go to the sample bowls of mixed
wine.” Proverbs 23:29,30.
How do intoxicants
serve one in the end?
“Do not gaze at
wine when it is red, when it sparkles
in the cup, when it goes down
smoothly! In the end it bites like
a snake and poisons like a
viper.” Verses 31,32.
Note – The
effects of alcoholic liquors do not
decrease with the passing of the
years. These effects are well
described in the American
Prohibition Year Book of 1912.
To what extent is
the lack of self-control the cause of
crime?
“Phillip L.
Griffin, chief probation officer of
the Municipal Court of Minneapolis
says, ‘Practically 90 per cent
of the cases that come through the
court… are a result of
drinking.’” – Listen
October-December, 1948, p. 34.
Nature
and Effect of Tobacco
Being a rank poison,
tobacco is highly injurious.
Note –
“Tobacco is the most subtle
poison known to chemists, except the
deadly prussic acid.” –M.
Academy.
“Tobacco slows up
reflexes, lowers morale; any
advertisement that says smoking helps
an athlete is a falsehood and a
fraud.” –Knute Rockne.
Innocent
Beginning and Sad Ending
Where does the lack
of self-control begin?
Lack of self-control
begins in the home.
Note – “The
quick pick me ups of sweets in
childhood, the dependence of many
youths on the influence of caffeine
in tea, coffee, and chocolate,
reinforced today from puberty on by
increasing concentrated absorption of
nicotine, early result in the
acquiring of an hourly need for
drugged foods. From these milder
drug-helps it is an easy step to
light drinks, then to the essence of
false hope-hard liquor.” –
Robert S. Carroll, What Price
Alcohol? Pp. 278,279.
What
will drunkards, with other workers of
iniquity, never inherit?
“Do you know that
the wicked will not inherit the
kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:
Neither the sexually immoral nor
idolaters nor adulterers nor male
prostitutes nor homosexual offenders
nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor
swindlers will inherit the kingdom
of God.” 1 Corinthians
6:9,10.
Christ’s
Warning and Prophecy
What admonition
against the lack of self-control did
Christ give that is especially
applicable at the present time?
“Be careful,
or your hearts will be
weighted down with dissipation,
drunkenness and the anxieties of
life, and that day will
close on you unexpectedly like a
trap.”
Luke 21:34.
Thoughts
to Think
“Grape-juice
has killed more people than
grape-shot.” – Spurgeon
“O that man
should put an enemy in their mouths,
to steal away their brains!”
– Shakespeare.
“The liquor
traffic is the most degrading and
ruinous of all human pursuits.”
- William McKinley
“In
every community three things always
work together – the grog-shop,
the jail, and the gallows – an
infernal trinity.” – Henry
Ward Beecher.
