“Hear, my son, and be wise and guide your heart in the way. Do not mix with winebibbers or with gluttonous eaters of meat. For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags” (Proverbs 23:19-21).
An important aspect of wisdom is knowing and avoiding spiritual black holes. Some influences found in our world are so powerful and dangerous they must be completely avoided, regardless of how popular they may be. People who are “partiers” (i.e., winebibbers and gluttons) are one such example.
Alcohol is so deceptive. It looks enticing and pleasurable but bites like a serpent and stings like a viper (Prov. 23:31-32). A life spent in pursuing its passing pleasures will bankrupt you materially, mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually (Prov. 23:21, 29). It is a spiritual black hole you should continuously avoid.
Like the immense financial waste of buying and consuming booze, gluttony is also premised on wastefulness. Regardless of whether the gluttony is found in undereating (and discarding the rest) or overeating, a lifestyle of gluttony has a huge financial tab. Such carelessness is the opposite of the circumspection essential to spiritual success.
A wise person heeds the words of this passage and avoids the spiritual black hole of alcohol and gluttony.
