Chapter 5

Proverbs 5 (Tim)

Proverbs 5:3-6 "For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But in the end, she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn't realize it."

Okay, guys. Before you go blaming all that lusting you do on the women, keep in mind the simple economics of supply and demand. If you didn't want it, beg for it, plead for it, she wouldn't do it. Sexual desire is a two way street. More importantly, Proverbs contains a lot of warnings to the men to avoid sexual immorality for what I believe is a very simple reason: we guys go astray with our eyes and our hearts a whole lot easier than the ladies do.

So, now that we have the proper perspective in place. For married couples, the message is quite clear. Adultery poisons the marriage relationship for both man and woman ("double edged sword"). One is devastated by the betrayal, the other emotionally distant/detached and unable to restore that which has been damaged.

But what about singles? Is there really adultery if you aren't married? According to the dictionary, no. But, what do you say? Have you ever been in a relationship (abstinent or not) and the other person "dumps you" out of the blue? Does that feel like "the path to life" or "bitter as poison"? Have you ever misled the other person with words "as sweet as honey" into something they didn't really want?

You see, what our generation conveniently doesn't (want to) see is that dating, whether casual or committed, takes on many similar characteristics as marriage in Biblical times: getting to know each other, committing significant time to each other, gaining deep trust and reliance. While dating in our times allows us to find more compatible mates for healthier, more fulfilling marriages, that freedom requires of us a greater responsibility to ensure we don't cross the line into living as if the other is our spouse (living together, having pre-marital sex) without actually getting married.

And there's the heart of the matter... the benefits of marriage are truly realized only in a lifelong, committed relationship ("path to life"). Attempting to claim those benefits without the lifelong commitment invites all the pain, anguish, and betrayal ('bitter as poison") that adultery would bring when our fickle nature finds a greener pasture elsewhere.

Oh, don't think you are or would be fickle? Throughout your life, have you ever had an argument with a significant other and just declared "we weren't meant for each other?" Broke up with someone over a bad (or no) gift? Didn't like their car? Do you honestly think that marriage is peaceful bliss, free from disagreements, strife, etc? Thoughts to think about...