Bread and Wine

(Proverbs 4:17 KJV)  For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

It is interesting that “bread” (3899) is associated with general “wickedness” (7562) whereas “wine” (3196) is associated with “violence” (2555).  Different forms of sin produce different forms of destruction.  Some is broad brush, some is targeted. 

Hypocrisy paints with a broad brush.   There is no way of knowing how many people it drags down.  Adultery destroys individual lives and then can spread to a family.  Lies can be aimed at one or an entire culture.  Sloth sucks the life out of a culture because parasites live off the life blood of others.

I was listening to an interview with a politician who was talking about non-violent offenses and victimless crimes.  We sometimes make the same types of excuses for our own failures.

So?  Don’t fall for it.  We are to live righteous lives.  We are to be salt and light.  Sure we stumble.  Definitely we have bad days.  Don’t let that be an excuse.  Strive for the narrow gate.  Your life effects everyone around you.