It was customary for kings and princes to hold court and great feasts wherein drunkenness occurred. Kings who became drunk, could easily be deceived and manipulated….and eventually destroyed. Although wine was an everyday beverage, drunkenness was not acceptable, especially for a king.  In this verse, Lemuel’s (Solomon’s) mother was not only thinking about his well being, but also the well being of the subjects of the kingdom.  A drunken king’s judgment would become clouded, and he would not be able to carry out government.  Eventually, the people would become afflicted.   What is making you drunk and clouding your judgment?

The consequences of our behavior not only affect our lives, but also the lives of others.  A boss’s bad choices will affect the company.  A Parent’s bad choices will affect the family.  A neighbor’s bad choices will affect the whole neighborhood, and so on….. We must all be accountable for our own behavior.  When you accepted Jesus as Lord, God adopted you into His family.  You are His royal priesthood (king or queen), and you are valuable to Him.  Yesterday, we asked God to forgive us of our sins.  And, we forgave ourselves and others.  Today, we must make righteous choices so that we are accountable to God, ourselves and others.  Today’s Scripture reminds us that we cannot allow ourselves to slip back into our old behavior because it not only affects our lives, but the lives of others…..and it is not befitting royalty.  (Repeat the GEM FOR TODAY several times throughout the day.)

GEM FOR TODAY:  I am God’s royal priesthood, and I am valuable to Him.  I make righteous choices befitting a child of God’s Kingdom, in Jesus' Name.  Amen