A good portion of the opening section of Proverbs 5 counsels young men to avoid adultery and remain faithful to their wives.
It’s not surprising that King Solomon begins his book of wisdom with this subject because some of the smartest, richest, most influential people in the world have been completely ruined by an illicit affair.
When their adultery is ultimately disclosed the first reaction is not usually, “I have sinned” but, “How could I have been so stupid?”
Solomon suggests several reasons why it’s wise for a young man to avoid sexual impurity.
Naturally his counsel applies to both men and women.
1. Eventually the adulteress will turn against you. “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.” (3-5)
2. You waste lots of money and energy. “Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your best strength to others and your years to one who is cruel, lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich another man’s house.” (8-10)
3. You risk disease. “At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.” (11)
4. You forfeit your influence with others. “I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.” (14)
5. You miss out on the lasting fulfillment of a committed marriage. “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer– may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.” (15-19)
6. You have to face God someday. “For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths.” (21)
7. You are vulnerable to sexual addiction and will live with guilt. “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.” (22-23)
Fatal Attraction
The movie, ‘Fatal Attraction” was on television recently.
The temptress in the film became enraged when the adulterer, played by Michael Douglas, terminated their brief relationship. The spurned woman relentlessly pursued him and her neurotic obsession eventually resulted in horrible violence, total disclosure and disgrace. Even the secular world warns about the potential disaster that follows adultery.
In the next chapter of Proverbs Solomon returns to the subject and warns, “for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.” (6:26-29)
a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. (6:32)
A word to the wise should be sufficient.
We could add, The man who remains faithful is judicious and whoever does so saves himself a whole lot of grief ….. and perhaps eternal life in heaven.
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Bob Russell retired from his position as the senior minister of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky where he served for 40 years. During his tenure, Southeast grew to become one of the ten largest churches in America. Russell is nationally known and respected for his clear biblical preaching. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including When God Builds a Church and When God Answers Prayer.
Sermons from Bob Russell’s preaching archives are broadcast every week on the SermonCast Channel.