An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Pre-fab Morals

(Proverbs 5:8 KJV)  Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

By itself this verse struggles for meaning.  If you have your Bible you can look back and see that Solomon is contrasting wisdom with an adulteress.  This can be taken literally or figuratively.  The advice is the same both ways. 

Lets look at it literally for a moment.  Most of us have had an opportunity to stray in our sexual lives.  Mine have been few and far between and, because I did nothing to pursue them, they could not be proven.  I don’t think sexual promiscuity is as common as the TV would like to make us think.  But there have been times when I could have moved in that direction.  There is an old saying though, “It takes two to tango.” 

I don’t know if the “opportunities” were real because I had a moral compass that said, “Don’t go there.”  It was a very low level temptation because I had made up my mind before the event that I would be chaste.  That is what this verse is telling us.

So?  Know God’s standards.  Know what you will do or won’t do.  Then when the temptation comes your response is almost automatic.  Stay on the high road. 

2 comments:

Ron Livesay said...

I believe you are right when you say, "I don’t think sexual promiscuity is as common as the TV would like to make us think." I have said many times that I believe much of this is wishful thinking on the part of those who write TV shows and movies. Even without Biblical morality in place, the practicality and logistics of practicing immorality and trying to get away with it would be daunting.

That being said, knowing and practicing Biblical morality in this and other areas is of utmost importance. Being faithful because it is "too much trouble" to do otherwise is not really a very solid position.

Pumice said...

Well said.

Grace and peace.