Focus and Vision for Family Legacy Success

Proverbs 20:
1. Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

As we have noticed, the Book of Proverbs is all about being wise and doing the wise thing. Here it warns against an unwise act, that of being deceived by alcoholic beverages. So does this mean that any drinking of alcoholic beverages is being deceived by them? I don't think so because then Wisdom itself would be engaged in and be encouraging unwise things.

“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.” (Proverbs 9:1-2,5)

Here Wisdom herself mingles wine and encourages others to drink it – and the Hebrew word for wine here is the same word used in Proverbs 20:1. Therefore this deception must mean becoming drunk, and this is condemned everywhere in the Scriptures.

But if we get caught up in the alcohol debate we will miss out on the important teaching of this verse. While the verse speaks specifically of alcohol here, it can be applied to many similar circumstances that can be summarized with these verses.

“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Corinthians 6:12)

“All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

While it is true that the fact that something is lawful means that you cannot prohibit nor bind the conscience of another from doing it (unless it is within your authority to do so). Yet the fact that something is lawful does not mean it is the best thing to do. But how do we determine expediency? It seems so personal and subjective. Here is the Scriptural directive for determining what is expedient.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Seeking the success of God’s kingdom is our number one priority around which we are to order everything else in our lives. Jesus did this even in how he taught us to pray.

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

Setting this priority for all our actions extends even to our most common and insignificant activities.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

And what happens when we glorify God in everything we do?

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

As we seek to glorify God in all that we do, others see those works for what they are and also glorify God. How do they glorify God? – by doing good works too! God is only glorified by words when they are reflected in actions.

This is what this verse has to do with building a Family Legacy. The way to keep from being tripped up and derailed by activities and addictions that cloud our reason, destroy our character, or just plain waste time, is to keep focused on glorifying God in everything we do and to be focused on the vision of building His kingdom. Building a lasting Family Legacy cannot be successful without this!