It takes two to tango, the old song lyric
goes. To put it bluntly, prostitutes would have no job if the John’s didn’t
show up and pay. We can’t put the blame on the women. The men are just as
guilty as they are.
The next three chapters of Proverbs are
filled with exhortation and illustration of what happens when anyone gets
involved sexually with someone outside the bonds of marriage. Our culture
dismisses this premise, but it is proved wrong by the facts. The best place for
children to grow up and the most satisfying sexual relationships are within a
lifelong marriage, man and woman. Despite the cultural trend away from
marriage, the facts remain the same. So let’s begin to dive into the text.
Verse three give us a poignant picture of
the thrill of an elicit sexual encounter. Lips dripping with honey, who wouldn’t
want to dive in? These kinds of
encounters must be thrilling in that moment. The pleasure must override all the
negative consequences that will inevitably come (vv4-6). Having talked to
hundreds of divorced and divorcing couples down through the years, I have never
heard of such a breakup that was filled with joy. Even the best, if there is
such a thing on the negative side of this equation, have their pain.
If you get involved, be ready for aimless
living. The pain will be greater than the reward. The pleasure is short-lived,
while the pain is long-lasting. Read carefully the negative consequences of these
types of choices. Read it again. Yikes!
Verse eight gives us some good advice, which
we will hear stated several different ways in the coming chapters. The writer
tells us to avoid even getting close to the temptation. Alcoholics need to stay
away from places that sell and consume alcohol. Problem shoppers need to stay
away from the places they purchase things. Notice he tells us to choose a
different path, one that takes us far from the temptation.
Too often believers try to see how close
they can get to the temptation. They want to walk the thin line between sin and
righteousness. The writer tells us to do just the opposite: choose a path far
from the temptation. We get to choose the path. At the end of your life, you
will regret walking over the line. You will probably have lost what is most
valuable.