05/29/2026
Living only for pleasure
Jesus warned about people becoming spiritually dull because life revolves around eating, drinking, and pleasure:
“Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life…”
— Luke 21:34
Paul also describes people whose whole focus is appetite and pleasure:
“Whose god is their belly…”
— Philippians 3:19
Wasting money on indulgence
The book of Proverbs speaks directly about spending excessively on wine and luxury:
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.”
— Proverbs 21:17
And:
“Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty…”
— Proverbs 23:20–21
The Bible connects uncontrolled appetites with poverty, bo***ge, and destruction.
Drunkenness and excess
Scripture repeatedly warns against drunkenness:
“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”
— Proverbs 20:1
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
— Ephesians 5:18
Stewardship and responsibility
The Bible teaches that what God gives us should be handled wisely. Believers are called to provide for their families, help others, and honor God with their substance.
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
— 1 Corinthians 4:2
“If anyone does not provide for his relatives… he has denied the faith…”
— 1 Timothy 5:8
Balance
The Bible also says God gives good things to enjoy:
“Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”
— 1 Timothy 4:4
And:
“God… richly giveth us all things to enjoy.”
— 1 Timothy 6:17
So the issue is not food itself or even wine by itself. The issue is when appetite, pleasure, addiction, or wastefulness become master over a person instead of God.
A biblical pattern looks like:
self-control
moderation
generosity
providing for family
avoiding drunkenness/addiction
putting God first over pleasure
A powerful verse that sums it up is:
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
— 1 Corinthians 10:31
