Proverbial Wisdom: Being Wise In Our Relationships

 Read Proverbs 5

The next few chapters, 5-7, deal with a huge problem in today’s society.  Sexual sin.  This sin is a reality and one that needs to be dealt with.  We have a tendency to shy away from this.  Whether it be because we have a personal struggle with this or as I have heard some other Christians say, that they outright disagree with the stances (which is blasphemy in and of itself), is very troublesome in today’s society.  The shame is not only is this blatant sin against God but if a person with common sense would sit down and read the chapters concerning this, much heartbreak, broken families, and disastrous relationships could be saved.  There are so many people in today’s world that are dealing with scars from the past that all started with a foothold with sexual sin.

This proverb starts off in a way urging us to get our attention.  Again, as in previous chapters, we see God calling out to us as His own children.  Addressing the reader as “son.”  Again, don’t let the titles confuse you.  This chapter is for all.  Men or women.  In this chapter, we are introduced to the “immoral woman.”  Again, this can also be implied as an “immoral man.”  God is telling us THAT THERE WILL BE times in our lives where we will have to fight off sexual temptation and temptation to enter into relationships that we should not be in.

Look over the attributes over the immoral woman though.  I want to bring out a fact that I think a lot of folks miss.  When we think of adultery and other sexual sin, we usually have a tendency to think that it is solely a physical temptation.  One to where we just satisfy a “lust of the flesh.”  However, if we look at the immoral woman, we see that the trap goes down even further.  Proverbs tells us here that her words are as “sweet as honey” and as “smooth as oil.”  Sexual temptation is not all about the physical.  The majority of the time, it comes down to the mental and emotional.  We find ourselves gravitating to someone who affirms us, who speaks well of us, who makes us believe we are great and beautiful.  We become attracted and entrapped to those who do that and enter into a sexual sin a lot of time because those feelings of affirmation, those feelings of acceptance, are not being uplifted in the current relationships that we have.  So, when we are not getting it at home so to speak, we have the temptation to get it elsewhere. 

I’m a man, so I want to speak to the men for just a second about this.  Particularly, Christian men.  Men, we need to be the men God called us to be and step up.  I’ve had to correct this even in my own life, but God calls us to be better.  When God gives us the gift of a woman in our life, (remember she is a gift, God gave Eve to Adam as a gift because He was alone), we should cherish her with the thought that God gave me her.  We need to love her as Christ loves the church.  How does God talk to His Church?  Does He call us idiots?  No, He calls us His beloved.  Does He ignore us?  No.  He is with us always.  Does He break His promises?  No.  He keeps His promises.   We need to step up and be better men and husbands.  Another man’s wife is not yours.  God will never send you another man’s wife.  To the Christian man, please be careful.  If you are being faithful in the above things that I mentioned, you are still in danger.  Due to you holding onto those things, other women who may not be receiving affirmation in the home and not getting a Godly love at home from their husband may be attracted to you for what they see in your life.  It may seem innocent at first and it may seem that you are actually doing the right thing by making her feel more accepted and more loved, but she belongs to another.  Run away.  By the grace of God, He helped me in this situation that I was being entangled with.  There is nothing wrong with those women and nothing at all evil when they come to you.  It’s just Satan likes to use situations to trip both parties up.  Be strong.  God will end up blessing you both if you obey and honestly, that is the greatest sign of love between Christians is the ultimate obedience unto the God they love.

So, how do we respond to the immoral woman?  We respond in the way that this Proverb tells us.  We stay away.  We stay away from temptation and when those situations enter in our lives, we walk away.  That’s ok.  That’s not weakness.  In fact, in a lot of times, and in a lot of relationships, that’s really a sign of strength.

Look at Joseph.  Do you remember the story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife?  If not, read Genesis chapter 39.  When Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph, not just because of his physical beauty but also because Joseph was very successful, she tried to get Joseph to engage in sexual sin with her.  Joseph did the right thing by telling her that it was a sin against God and that he would not partake.  When Potiphar’s wife came at him again and Joseph understood that the temptation would continue and be strong, the Bible tells us that Joseph fled.  This is a proper response and while Joseph did end up having to go to prison, we see that ultimately, Joseph was tremendously blessed through the whole experience and became a leader in Egypt. 

Now, let’s look at another example.  Read 2 Samuel 11-12.  The story of David and Bathsheba.  David saw Bathsheba naked taking a bath and he became tempted to have her.  He knew that Bathsheba was Uriah’s wife, but he just wanted to fulfill his own desires.  He did not flee and take his thoughts captive like he should but instead, he followed through with them.  In summary, what was the result?  Uriah was murdered by King David and a marriage was broken.  When this happens, as always, there are consequences to our sins.  God called David out through Nathan the prophet and as a result of their sin, David and Bathsheba lost their first child which would be a constant heartache that David would never forget.

Sexual sin is a dangerous game because it attacks us on every level.  It attacks us on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual planes of our very existence.  The hurt and pain goes deep and is one that is not quickly forgotten.

So we need to heed the words of this proverb and steer clear from such enticement.  We should run away from it and seek the face of the Lord.