“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puts the bottle to him, and makes him drunken also” (Habakkuk 2:15).

As a young pastor just entering the ministry, I had to come to the personal conviction as to who I would perform the marriage ceremony for and who I would not. I had the privilege of being the minister of a very beautiful church that was highly desirable for weddings. One of the things that became a very settled conviction to me was the area of alcohol. My wife and I witnessed firsthand the way alcohol ruined marriages, destroyed homes and families, hurt children, and caused people to do things they never would do when sober. As a police chaplain and a pastor, I have been an eyewitness to the devastation that alcohol brings. So, to be honest with you, early in my ministry I came to hate alcohol and the potential problems that it brings into homes and families. I came to the conviction that I would not marry anyone who is going to have alcohol at their wedding. I told pulpit committees and congregations that were considering me as a pastoral candidate of my conviction. I can tell you that I have never had anyone angry with me over a funeral, but I have had several families furious with me over weddings! I don’t know where you stand on the subject of alcohol. Personally, I hate alcohol. I hate the potential effects of alcohol that will come into a person’s life and home. I think it is better to hate it and view anyone serving it to another as a woeful situation.

For today: May you and I have the grace and wisdom to avoid anything that will be potentially harmful to ourselves or another.