Drunkenness is one of American’s leading health, moral, and social problems. The Bible warns, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise” (Proverbs 20:1).
The evils of drunkenness can be seen in a story that I found in an old Spanish schoolbook many years ago. On a lonely stretch of mountain road a traveler met Satan one day. Terrified, the traveler tried to step around the evil one but was unable to do so. At last with a trembling voice he begged Satan to allow him to go on his way. But the devil smirked at him and replied that he would never be allowed to pass until he had promised to do one of three things.
“And what are the three things?” the traveler asked, much afraid.
“Well,” the devil gently answered, “You can kill your wife.”
“No, no!” protested the poor man. “I could never kill my wife! I love her very much. Through all the years she has been a good wife, so kind and helpful and true to me. I could never kill my wife!”
“All right.” And the devil smiled again. “You can drive your children away from home.”
“Drive my children away from home!” shouted the traveler. “Surely I could never do that. My children are the delight of my heart. Never, never could I drive my children away from home!”
“Then you have one more choice,” said the devil. “You can drink this cask of wine.”
“Aha!” laughed the traveler, greatly relieved. “That will be easy. I will be glad to drink the cask of wine.”
So he drank the wine. Then he killed his wife. Then he drove his children away from home. What more need be said? The Bible says, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18).