“Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—a staggering drunk is not much fun.” – Proverbs 20:1
What Does The Bible Say Against Drinking Alcohol
The Bible warns against the dangers of drinking alcohol excessively because it can lead to poor decisions, harmful actions, and a life that moves away from God’s purpose. It encourages self-control and wisdom, urging people to avoid situations where they might lose control of their thoughts and actions. Drinking too much can harm relationships, damage reputations, and weaken a person’s ability to make sound judgments.
The Bible often highlights the importance of living a life that reflects God’s goodness and brings honor to Him. Drinking too much can cloud the mind and heart, making it difficult to focus on what truly matters, like showing love, kindness, and care for others. It can also cause harm to our physical and emotional health.
God wants His people to live with purpose and clarity, using their time and energy to serve others and grow spiritually. Drinking responsibly or choosing not to drink at all helps protect our ability to do this. By avoiding drunkenness and staying alert, we can remain open to God’s guidance and avoid unnecessary trouble.
Ultimately, the Bible teaches that we should make choices that help us live in peace with others and stay connected to God. Choosing to avoid excessive drinking is one way to show respect for ourselves, care for others, and honor God in our daily lives.
Also Read: Bible Verses about Alcohol
Drinking Clouds Judgment
Drinking alcohol can impair judgment, leading to poor decisions and actions that one may regret. The Bible often warns against the pitfalls of indulging in alcohol, emphasizing the need for self-control and wisdom in life. Scriptures remind us of the potential harm excessive drinking can cause to our relationships, health, and spiritual walk.
Proverbs 23:20-21
“Don’t drink too much wine and get drunk; don’t eat too much food and get fat. Drunks and gluttons will end up on skid row, in a stupor and dressed in rags.”
Isaiah 5:22
“Doom to those who get heroes at drinking, champions at mixing drinks.”
Hosea 4:11
“Wine and whiskey leave my people in a stupor.”
1 Peter 4:3
“You’ve already put in your time in that God-ignorant way of life, partying night after night, a drunken and profligate life.”
Proverbs 31:4-5
“Leaders can’t afford to make fools of themselves, gulping wine and swilling beer, lest, hung over, they don’t know right from wrong.”
Alcohol as a Cause of Strife
The Bible highlights how alcohol consumption can lead to arguments, broken relationships, and other forms of strife. These verses serve as warnings against allowing drinking to sow discord in our lives or the lives of those around us. By avoiding alcohol, we can preserve peace and harmony in our interactions.
Proverbs 20:1
“Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome—a staggering drunk is not much fun.”
Galatians 5:19-21
“It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.”
Proverbs 23:29-30
“Who are the people who are always crying the blues? Who do you know who reeks of self-pity? Who keeps getting beaten up for no reason at all? Whose eyes are bleary and bloodshot? It’s those who spend the night with a bottle, for whom drinking is serious business.”
Ecclesiastes 10:17
“Lucky the land whose leader is a young person full of vigor and whose princes behave themselves and don’t drink themselves silly.”
Isaiah 28:7
“These also, the priests and prophets, stagger from drink, weaving, falling-down drunks, besotted with wine and whiskey, can’t see straight, can’t talk sense.”
Drunkenness Leads to Destruction
The Bible frequently illustrates the destructive nature of drunkenness. It leads to ruined lives, broken families, and separation from God. Through these verses, we are encouraged to practice restraint and seek God’s strength to overcome any temptation to drink excessively.
1 Corinthians 6:10
“Nor thieves nor greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Isaiah 28:1
“Doom to the pretentious drunks of Ephraim, shabby and washed out and seedy.”
Romans 13:13
“We can’t afford to waste a minute, must not squander these precious daylight hours in frivolity and indulgence, in sleeping around and dissipation, in bickering and grabbing everything in sight.”
Proverbs 23:34
“You’ll feel like seasick sailor, adrift at sea, clinging to a mast.”
1 Timothy 3:3
“Not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.”
Call to Sobriety
The Bible calls us to be sober-minded, focused, and ready for God’s work. Sobriety helps us to live a life of purpose, free from the distractions and consequences of drinking. These scriptures provide encouragement for those seeking to lead a life dedicated to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:6
“So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart.”
Titus 2:11-12
“God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life.”
1 Peter 5:8
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping.”
1 Corinthians 15:34
“Think straight. Awaken to the holiness of life. No more playing fast and loose with resurrection facts. Ignorance of God is a luxury you can’t afford in times like these.”
Luke 21:34
“But be on your guard. Don’t let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping.”
Drinking as a Hindrance to Spiritual Growth
Alcohol can become a stumbling block in one’s spiritual journey, pulling focus away from God and hindering spiritual growth. The Bible encourages believers to pursue righteousness and maintain a clear mind, free from the distractions and temptations of excessive drinking. These verses highlight the importance of staying spiritually vigilant.
Ephesians 5:18
“Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him.”
Romans 14:21
“It’s better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that might cause another believer to stumble.”
1 Corinthians 10:31
“So eat your meals heartily, but not to the point of stuffing yourselves. It’s good for you to be filled and generous. Keep God in mind as you do everything.”
Matthew 26:41
“Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger.”
1 Timothy 4:12
“Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity.”
The Example of Leadership
The Bible sets higher standards for leaders, emphasizing sobriety as a key trait for those in positions of influence. Leaders are called to model self-control and wisdom, avoiding behaviors like drunkenness that can undermine their authority or set a poor example. These verses highlight the role of sobriety in leadership.
Titus 1:7
“For a leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, accessible, and hospitable. He must not be overbearing, quick-tempered, a drunk, a bully, or money-hungry.”
1 Timothy 3:8
“The same goes for those who want to be servants in the church: serious, not deceitful, not too free with the bottle, not in it for what they can get out of it.”
Proverbs 31:6-7
“Use wine and beer only as sedatives, to kill the pain and dull the ache of the terminally ill, for whom life is a living death.”
Hebrews 13:17
“Be responsive to your pastoral leaders. Listen to their counsel. They are alert to the condition of your lives and work under the strict supervision of God.”
James 3:1
“Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards.”
Guarding Against Temptation
Alcohol often serves as a doorway to other temptations and sins. The Bible urges believers to remain vigilant and to avoid situations that might lead them astray. Through reliance on God, we can guard our hearts and minds from the temptations that drinking may bring.
Proverbs 4:23
“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”
Matthew 26:41
“Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger.”
James 1:14-15
“The temptation to give in to evil comes from us and only us. We have no one to blame but the leering, seducing flare-up of our own lust. Lust gets pregnant, and has a baby: sin! Sin grows up to adulthood, and becomes a real killer.”
1 Corinthians 10:13
“No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.”
2 Timothy 2:22
“Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God.”
Living a Life of Purpose
The Bible calls believers to live purposeful lives, centered on God’s will. Drinking can distract from this purpose, causing harm to oneself and others. By staying focused on God’s plan, we can avoid the pitfalls associated with alcohol and live lives that glorify Him.
Colossians 3:17
“Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”
Psalm 90:12
“Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well!”
Jeremiah 29:11
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Philippians 3:14
“I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
Hebrews 12:1
“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins.”
Christian Quotes on Drinking Alcohol
“Alcohol may bring temporary pleasure, but it can rob you of eternal joy. Be vigilant, for the enemy often comes disguised as a friend.” – Billy Graham
“Do not trade your testimony for a drink. The cost is far greater than you think.” – Charles Spurgeon
“Drunkenness is the enemy of self-control. A life surrendered to Christ has no room for surrender to the bottle.” – John Piper
“Alcohol may drown your sorrows, but it will also drown your soul. Only Christ can quench the thirst of the heart.” – C.S. Lewis
“Abstain from anything that weakens your influence, clouds your judgment, or distances you from God.” – Dwight L. Moody
“Christ offers living water that truly satisfies. Why settle for what numbs when you can have what heals?” – Francis Chan
“The problem with alcohol is not just in the drinking; it’s in what it represents—a substitute for the Holy Spirit’s control.” – John MacArthur
“Your life is a sermon. Let it preach self-control and the joy of a Spirit-filled existence.” – Adrian Rogers
“Alcohol may promise escape, but it leads to chains. Freedom is found in Christ alone.” – Ravi Zacharias
“True courage is saying no to the drink that numbs your pain and yes to the Savior who heals your heart.” – David Platt
Final Thought
The Bible provides clear and practical wisdom about the dangers of alcohol consumption. While drinking itself is not explicitly labeled as sin, the excess, dependency, and resulting harm it causes are grave concerns. As followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard—to live lives that glorify God, encourage others, and reflect self-control.
This article has explored how the Bible and Christian leaders urge us to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol abuse, offering guidance for a life of purpose and spiritual growth. By choosing moderation or abstinence, believers can guard their hearts, minds, and testimonies while remaining focused on God’s plan for their lives. Remember, only Christ can fully satisfy the deepest longings of the soul. Let us strive to live wisely and honor Him in all we do, avoiding anything that hinders our spiritual journey or damages our witness to others.