"I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation."
--Proverbs 5:14 (NKJV)
From the daily Bible reading on September 15, 2013 of Proverbs 5:7-14; 2 Timothy 1; Ecclesiastes 11-12.
In the fifth chapter of his Book of Proverbs, Solomon cautions us to avoid lust. He specifically addresses this lesson to his son regarding the perils of giving free rein to physical lust, the desires of the flesh. He cautions us all not to give in to the temptation of adultery or we could lose everything. What may seem sweet at first will turn sour like wormwood. The soft caress of the flesh can cut our souls like a two-edged sword. The path of adultery leads to hell, even though we don't realize it at the time. And the spoils of our labors end up going to an other's house rather than our own, into an other's possession instead of providing for our own family. Solomon warns it is best to avoid this situation altogether by heeding wisdom and by being content with the fruits of lawful marriage under God.
But Solomon could just as easily have been addressing any lust, not just sexual desires. To lust is to have an intense longing and desire. It is a craving that can defy and ignore all reasoning and logic. We can lust after a person whom we desire sexually, and we can lust after money and wealth, expensive cars and huge homes, great fame and powerful influence. Lust is perilous whether we attempt to satisfy it or simply obsess about the objects of our desire. The danger lies in how much of our life we give over to it, when we allow it to become our master, forsaking our true Master, Jesus Christ. Satisfying our lust is pretty much always a sin, whether it involves stepping outside the bonds of marriage or accumulating great wealth at the expense of others. But dwelling obsessively on what we desire is also a sin when we put it first over everything else in our life.
Do we really understand what our longings and lusts can lead to? Solomon speaks for the one who gave in to his lust, who committed adultery and is now paying the price, when he utters the words of today's focus verse. There are two very important points we need to study. The first is that the adulterer notes he is in the midst of the assembly and congregation. Just like this man Solomon speaks for, there may be many sitting in our churches each Sunday who have given themselves over to lust and are headed toward eternal damnation but who think they are saved because of their attendance (or maybe their lust has blinded them and they just don't care anymore). They must repent and seek God's forgiveness. But the second point holds more promise. Many of us may indeed be on the verge of ruin by allowing our lusts to take hold of us and condemn us in the eyes of God, but being on the verge means we have not yet gone over the edge. We still have a chance to step back, to reconsider what we are about to do, to repent and return to the Way of salvation. The Spirit will warn us when we near the edge, and Jesus will pull us back if we let Him. Be wise, forsake lust, and stay clear of the edge. Amen.
Heavenly Father, this human body too easily gives in to the temptations of the world placed before us by the evil one. We think that if we only had this or that we can finally be happy. Please forgive us when we fail to remember that all our needs and wants and desires are satisfied in You and our Lord Jesus. Forgive us when we have strayed if we turn from our sin and seek Your face. In the wonderful name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.
But Solomon could just as easily have been addressing any lust, not just sexual desires. To lust is to have an intense longing and desire. It is a craving that can defy and ignore all reasoning and logic. We can lust after a person whom we desire sexually, and we can lust after money and wealth, expensive cars and huge homes, great fame and powerful influence. Lust is perilous whether we attempt to satisfy it or simply obsess about the objects of our desire. The danger lies in how much of our life we give over to it, when we allow it to become our master, forsaking our true Master, Jesus Christ. Satisfying our lust is pretty much always a sin, whether it involves stepping outside the bonds of marriage or accumulating great wealth at the expense of others. But dwelling obsessively on what we desire is also a sin when we put it first over everything else in our life.
Do we really understand what our longings and lusts can lead to? Solomon speaks for the one who gave in to his lust, who committed adultery and is now paying the price, when he utters the words of today's focus verse. There are two very important points we need to study. The first is that the adulterer notes he is in the midst of the assembly and congregation. Just like this man Solomon speaks for, there may be many sitting in our churches each Sunday who have given themselves over to lust and are headed toward eternal damnation but who think they are saved because of their attendance (or maybe their lust has blinded them and they just don't care anymore). They must repent and seek God's forgiveness. But the second point holds more promise. Many of us may indeed be on the verge of ruin by allowing our lusts to take hold of us and condemn us in the eyes of God, but being on the verge means we have not yet gone over the edge. We still have a chance to step back, to reconsider what we are about to do, to repent and return to the Way of salvation. The Spirit will warn us when we near the edge, and Jesus will pull us back if we let Him. Be wise, forsake lust, and stay clear of the edge. Amen.
Heavenly Father, this human body too easily gives in to the temptations of the world placed before us by the evil one. We think that if we only had this or that we can finally be happy. Please forgive us when we fail to remember that all our needs and wants and desires are satisfied in You and our Lord Jesus. Forgive us when we have strayed if we turn from our sin and seek Your face. In the wonderful name of Christ Jesus we pray. Amen.
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