Prov.7 – “Finding Your Fun at Home”
October 7, 2009
Forbidden fruit isn’t exactly a new concept…remember the garden of Eden? The allure and attraction of what we are warned from or from the forbidden is intoxicating. Sometimes consuming. It shows up in not so obvious ways as we get something we want, and eventually want more and its usually something we know we shouldn’t crave or want, or its unattainable in other ways.
In Prov.7 we are warned about the attraction that the adulteress has on the man seeking wisdom. While many of you are thinking “hey, I don’t have a problem with prostitution, so what’s the big deal?” I want you to consider this passage a minute. Her smooth line to the young man goes like this…
18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
19For(Y) my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
20he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”
She really sells it. She says that we can have itall – a great time back at my place. The husband’s gone. We have till tomorrow.
Notice it has all the elements of sin we like, unfortunately. It’s quick, pain free and no chance of getting caught! Regardless of what you’re tempted by, think about how your desires work. When sin becomes a craving, whatever the craving, it all sounds the same. It all promises the same, and sadly, it all ends the same.
22All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast[e]
23till an arrow pierces its liver;
as(AA) a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.
Today, consider how desires work in your life. Godly desires work for our good and under control. The good news here is; as children of God with His Spirit, we actually can choose and control those things. They may seem crazy, but NO ONE MAKES US DO ANYTHING! We choose. Yet, we can be enslaved to the desires we foolishly choose. So consider…
1. Do you have desires that give you conflict and bring your problems?
2. What is your process when you have to choose between conflicting desires; pleasing God or pleasing yourself, for instance?
3. Can you think of instances where you paid the price for following the quick fun way of the adulteress, instead of the voice of wisdom?
Hey, if it was easy, then we wouldn’t be told about how seductive and enticing her wicked ways are! I’m wondering how you sort those desires out! You do…don’t you???!!!???
coram deo
rob