What Kind Of Behavior Does God Tolerate?

There's a sign on the outside wall of a local business establishment here in El Paso, that has printed in large letters, the following message:

"No Loitering or Drinking Allowed On These Premises."

As I was recently bringing my groceries out of a grocery store a few doors down from this business establishment, I noticed that there were some customers outside the building laughing aloud at the sign, because the sign is on the outside wall of a liquor store!

Dear reader, can we imagine a sign on a library that read, "No Reading Allowed On These Premises," or a shoe store with a sign reading, "No Walking Allowed On These Premises," or on a music store with a sign reading, "No Playing or Singing Allowed On These Premises," or a florist sign reading, "No Flowers Allowed On These Premises?"

Isn't there something terribly wrong with any business establishment, when the product it is selling to customers leads to behavior that cannot be tolerated on its own premises?

Dear reader, the Bible strongly advises us against consuming alcoholic beverages (Leviticus 10:8-10; Romans 14:21; 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7) because alcohol consumed, in any quantity, negatively effects our body, as well as our mental capabilities (Proverbs 23:29-35; Proverbs 31:1-5).

Yes, alcohol effects our behavior (see article).

Proverbs 25:28 teaches us that whoever loses self-control, leaves himself defenseless, as a city whose walls have been broken down. Self-control is listed as an important virtue (2 Peter 1:6). Intoxicating drink breaks down self-control; our ability to control our body and our mind, causing behavior not tolerated by God (2 Corinthians 6:9-10).

Question: "What kind of behavior does God tolerate?"

Answer: Godly behavior (Titus 2:11-12).

 Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets




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