Proverbs 31:4 - The Wine of a Higher Calling

Monday 2/20/12 – The Wine of a Higher Calling

Proverbs 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink,

Interpretation:

     In this verse, Lemuel’s mother is telling him that it’s not for him to be drinking wine. Why? Because he’s a king. Let the other people drink their wine and intoxicating drinks, but he has a higher calling.

     You see, in the Bible, wine can symbolize joy. Once we’re saved, we become heirs with Christ and are kings and princes with Him. We no longer need to seek out the joy that the world has to offer. Before we were saved, maybe we found joy in money, fame, relationships, sports, or whatever else you can think of. But now, we are partakers of a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1) and called to a holy calling (2 Timothy 1:9). However, it doesn’t stop there, but there is also a hope in this calling. In Ephesians 1, Paul writes to the Ephesians about how we were chosen for this calling before the foundation of the world, (Eph. 1:4-5), how God is working all things together according to the purpose of His calling (Eph. 1::11), and then in Ephesians 1:17 – 19, Paul says how he wishes that we would know the hope of His calling: “…the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…” (Eph. 1:18)

     So now that we have this hope of a holy and heavenly calling, we should have such a joy that we no longer need to drink of the “wine” of this world. We’re kings; we don’t need to find joy and fulfillment in the things and circumstances of this world. That’s what unbelievers who have no hope look to for their joy. Our hope and joy can be found when we focus ourselves on the heavenly perspective. If life’s got you down, look up. Don’t seek the wine of this world to get you through, but instead let Jesus turn the plain water of your life into the wine that only He can give you. Then, like the master of the wedding feast in John chapter 2, you too will say, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!” (John 2:10)

Application:

     I will read Ephesians 1.