Proverbs 20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
This sums up alot about consuming alcohol and its effects. One can drink a single glass of wine and be inebriated, They start saying things they usually withhold and they may even slip up and communicate a confidence and that would be sin on their part. Most of you that like to drink wine don't look at it that way. To be intoxicated has different levels. You can have a low level of intoxication but you are still inebriated and your natural state, including your conscience, is effected and usually the tongue becomes a little loose and says things it should not and you get in trouble or others in trouble.
You can have a tendency to easily exaggerate, leave off important details, communicate presumptuously, become vulnerable in your emotions especially if you are a woman, initiate things that are unbecoming as a man and consider things that you would normally restrain yourself because of integrity, respect and character. One glass of wine can do that and you might not even realize that you are doing any of these things. You might even justify and say 'it's about time I got that off my chest' or 'I don't care what they think, it's true and I needed to tell someone, it may as well be you.'
Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. It only takes a little to get going what this verse is communicating in terms of truth and whether a little or a lot it is deception and unwise. No one can handle their alcoholic beverages, it is the beverage that handles you and delivers you over to these things. You may even say no (10) times and on the (11th) time you give in and say what the heck. Wine is a mocker! It mocked you on the (11th) time and you did or said something that you can't take back or reverse and it is going to cause trouble. It may be a confession you make that ends up as a wild fire not able to be put out.
For all of you that want to drink your wine and have a few beers or a shot of this or that, sooner or later it will bite you like a serpent,
Proverbs 23
29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. (2 categories are mentioned)
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red (white or pink), when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
The thing that people don't want to be honest about is when the wine, the mixed or strong drink is consumed in any portion, the heart begins to indite certain things that should not be indited. I guarantee you that drinking any amount of alcoholic beverage does not make you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. It might help you love your neighbor but in the wrong way. Wine is a mocker of the values that you hold onto when you are 100% sober and in your right mind without any level of inebriation. If we need anything to help us with life we need the filling of the Spirit continuously.
Eph 5:15-21
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk (at any level) with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
