Classic KJV - Proverbs 31:4

By definition, those in leadership affect the lives of many others. Hence leaders must live by a higher standard and avoid common personal pitfalls including the abuse of drugs and alcohol.

Avoid Despair and Escapism

The text does not condone substance abuse. It acknowledges the plight of the perishing. It recognizes the temporary relief derived from drunkeness but warns the aspiring king, Lemuel, about liquor. Sadly, those who are poor often look for comfort in a bottle; they drink and forget. They escape from the real world only to return in a worse condition. The misuse of alcohol spans the globe, yet is worse in some nations than in others. Since I was born in a communist country I have always had a special interest in communist states. One of the most amazing stories ever written (despite the efforts of Russian authorities to discredit it) is The Persecutor by Sergi Kourdakov. He describes the hopelessness in the Soviet Union among the young people and their reliance on vodka for relief. The following quote is taken from the end of Chapter 13:

Vodka is the curse of Russia. It’s everywhere. We naval cadets were paid seven rubles at the end of each month and after payday we promptly headed for town and spent our money on two bottles of vodka.... The [communist] party blames vodka as the greatest cause for low production in industry... The steady flurry of directives coming from Moscow to warn us of the problem of alchoholism showed me the great menace it was in the Soviet Union. It was the number one problem of Soviet youth.

Translation: afflicted

The Hebrew word for afflicted is translated as poor in the KJV and is very similar to the word translated as poor by the NASB in Proverbs 14:21. The poor and needy are vulnerable; they are the ones who require extra help.  The destitute who crave food, clothing and shelter are the ones who need the king’s attention.Perhaps the most vulnerable in any jurisdiction are the unborn babies prior to an abortion.

Good Authorities Serve and Protect

Those who are healthy and strong need to keep alert and that includes avoiding substance abuse in order to benefit others. The text commands the following:

• Open your mouth: Speak up on their behalf.
• Open your mouth: Repeated for emphasis.
• Judge righteously - this needs data collection, investigation and wisdom prior to making an accurate and appropriate decision.
• Defend the rights - this requires action and may require force against an aggressor.

Personal Pleasures or Human Rights

As long as there are evil aggressors, human rights will need to be defended. The downtrodden need champions. Only those who have both power and resources are strong enough to help. Governing authorities must refrain from the pursuit of personal pleasures and discipline themselves to benefit others. A close examination of Proverbs 29:14 underscores this point.

Our Maker, Saviour, and Friend

Jesus was the all-time greatest champion of the poor, the afflicted, and the needy.

Yet when Jesus was about to enter His time of greatest personal physical and emotional agony He refused drugs and pain-killers (Mark 15:23).  Jesus understood and endured excruciating torment. He is fully qualified to judge every individual on their own use/abuse of personal privilege or position.

Jesus said that on the day of judgement “more” would be expected from those who had been entrusted with “more,” (Luke 12:48).