Alternative Courses (Prov 23:19)

Life offers some troubling electives. Unfortunately, too many have signed up to take these courses.

1. Wine (23:1, 7, 20-21, 29-35). Staggering, drunkenness, loss of control. So many TV ads make drinking popular, sexy, glamorous. Did you notice these ads never follow up with the consequences?
2. Women (23:26-28). Prostitution, fornication, adultery. Stay true in your marriage covenant! Both before and after marriage, keep you mind and hands off what isn't yours.
3. Wealth (23:4-5, 10). There is nothing wrong with honest gain. There is nothing wrong with having money so long as money doesn't have you. Life is more than money and possessions. Wealth gained isn't necessarily wealth kept. It is unstable.
4. Wildness (23:10-11, 13-14, 17a, 20-21). No restraint, no limits. "I'm going to do what I'm going to do and you can't stop me!"