Day 149/365- Proverbs 6:27-29

"You play with fire, you're gonna get burned"

Can a man scoop a flame into his lap
and not have his clothes catch on fire?
Can he walk on hot coals
and not blister his feet?
So it is with the man who sleeps with another man's wife.
He who embraces her will not go unpunished. (Proverbs 6:27-29 NLT)

You play with fire & you're gonna get burned. We've heard it all our lives but did we know it's biblical? Not only is it biblical but the subject it is referring to is adultery. These first few proverbs deal in depth with sexual sin & avoiding the adulterous woman. Over & over Solomon warns about her. Could it be because of his parents & what came of that union? Either way, we see a strong warning to keep ourselves pure.

There are many temptations with sexual sin in our world & many are easy to access. From the internet to our cell phones, compromising sexual sin is at every turn. And this is the reality about it, "If we play with fire, we will get burned." This is not in doubt or a possibility. This is a promise of God. The only consequences of sin & especially sexual sin are being burn. We will be left marred & scared, possibility even permanently.

So the warning is clear. If we are playing with fire, it's time to put it out before we get burned! It's not worth it in the end. Consider the words of Proverbs 7:26-27. "For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death." (Proverbs 7:26, 27 NLT)

Also note the warning that Proverbs 6:32-33 as well as 5:9 give. "But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself. He will be wounded and disgraced. His shame will never be erased." (Proverbs 6:32, 33 NLT)

"If you do, you will lose your honor
and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved." (Proverbs 5:9 NLT)

The consequences are real & lasting & not worth it. So, it's clear what we should avoid but Proverbs also tells us what to pursue. "Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife. Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth." (Proverbs 5:15, 18 NLT)

Husbands are instead to pursue their wives. Sexual intimacy was given by God in the context of marriage. This is his plan & heart for us & we would do well to follow it!