Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of counselors there is victory. Proverbs 11:14

How do you make good decisions in life?  Even better said, "How do you make decisions that will not end in you falling on your face?  That is what is addressed in the proverb for today.  There is a way to be confident that your decisions will not come back to haunt you later.  Let's take a look at what God's wisdom has to teach us today about this.

This proverb is all about being willing to seek and take advice.  This does not mean that we cannot know what to do ourselves and do it, but it does warn against the person who thinks in all matters that what is in his own mind will suffice.  This man does not seek counsel at all.  When we read the passage it speaks of having "NO" guidance.  The problem here is that we have a decision maker with an excessive amount of pride in his own thinking.  The willingness to seek and accept advice is a plus - because godly counsel is a must if we are going to walk in God's ways.  We even need to be able to hear and consider advice that we don't want.  Some think that anyone they consider inferior to themselves is unable to offer counsel.  That is a sure way to fall.  It is when we have an abundance of godly counsellors in our life that we will have victory.  The word for victory is "tesuah" and it means to have deliverance, safety, or victory.  It speaks of a military context, of course, but goes beyond that one to also speak of deliverance from sin and from making foolish decisions that harm us later. 

When thinking about this verse two examples come to mind.  The first is that of Balaam.  He sought after and received God's counsel (even though he did it by divination).  But after receiving God's counsel - he decided after seeing the possibility of a huge payday from Balak, to ask God if He had any other ideas concerning cursing Israel.  When God allowed Balaam to go (but only speak what God says) Balaam took it as far more freedom to do what he wanted (which was to make a lot of money from Balak).  Since he would not take counsel from God - the Lord intended to kill him.  Were it not for the counsel of his donkey - he would have been killed that next day.  Balaam had what he wanted to do in his mind - and would not listen to God's counsel.  Fortunately for him the advice the donkey he had just beaten got through to him for a while.  Unfortunately for him - his donkey was not able to speak a second time to keep him from counselling Balak to send his women among the Israelites to get them to commit sexual immorality with the men - to get God to curse Israel.  In the end, Balaam's desire for money and power cost him his life - and eternity in hell. 

The second example is that of king Nebuhadnezzar from Babylon.  His pride and arrogance was leading him down a very destructive path.  He felt "he" was sovereign over his own life - and that all his power and authority had come from himself.  First God sought to counsel him by giving him a strange dream - then Daniel interpretted it.  Daniel let Nebuchadnezzar know that if he did not repent of his pride and arrogance, admitting that God alone was sovereign, he was about to experience life as a beast.  Nebby listened, but did not take the advice.  He fell from being king to being an ordinary beast of the field for 7 years.  He ended that time by lifting his eyes and finally taking counsel to admit that God alone was sovereign.  It took a while, but he learned that in the abundance of counsellors (God and Daniel) there is victory. 

Where are you?  Are you one who thinks that your own understanding is sufficient?  Do you shun the offer of advice and counsel of godly men and women?  If you are, I would encourage you to seriously consider today's proverb.  It warns of a fall that is coming your way.  It also gives you advice about having an abundance of godly counsellors to help you know wisdom - know victory - and know the favor and blessing of God.  A wise man would take this counsel.  A foolish man would seek no other guidance than that which his own mind produces - oh - and he will fall flat on his face eventually.

A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, But a fool is arrogant and careless. Proverbs 14:16

Why is it wise to be cautious in our choices and decisions in life?  It is because we live in a world that has fallen.  I know that those of you who read this regularly in these posts may think that I emphasize this too often, but I fear that we do not fully grasp at times what mankind's rebellion against God has wrought in this world. 

Today's proverb tells us that a wise man fears.  That is the literal translation of the word "cautious" here.  It refers to the fact that the wise man fears God.  He fears God becasue he reads of God's Word - God's glory, power, majesty, and holiness - and he fears displeasing and dishonoring Him.  Wisdom tells us to fear God's displeasure.  Wisdom also tells us that there is a way that is evil. 

Here is where we run into some very serious worldview problems with the world and its philosophies.  The majority of worldviews do not take into account the fall of man into sin and the subsequent ruin of this world.  They consider man's basic nature as good.  As a result you will hear people tell others to, "Just trust what is in your heart."  That is not wise or good advice.  What is in our hearts is rebellion toward God and a bent toward sin.  We will choose with an astounding regularity contrary to God's ways.  This is because there is within us a bent toward selfishness - and a bent away from God.  The wise man knows this - and as a result is cautious - and does fear making decisions and choices that run contrary to God's Word.  This is the place he turns for wisdom - to the Word - because it gives us an objective revelation of Who God is and what He has said.  Thus he takes time in making those decisions to check for God's will and favor in things.

The fool though is said to be arrogant and careless.  He is arrogant because he thinks he does not need anything to make wise decisions.  He doesn't need anyone to tell him what to do - especially a "God" Who knows all things.  He considers the Bible to be an ancient document that has no bearing on his life or his decisions.  His arrogance is manifest by how he views himself - as just fine and having NO need of refinement - let alone a fundamental change in who he is or how he makes decisons.  Therefore he is careless - he does not care about God, about God's Word, about God's will.  He will make his own way.  His favorite verse is an interesting rendition of Proverbs 3:4-5.  It goes something like this, "Trust in yourself, and lean heavily on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge yourself and what you want.  Forge your own path - make it what you want." 

These two paths definitely diverge from one another.  One heads toward God and sees God's Word as a road map and a guide for decisions - for life itself.  The other sees nothing but self and a pursuit of what the world says is valuable.  Even in instances where the world is not used as the standard - this one turns to his own desires and his own ways.  Correspondingly, one path leads to destruction and misery - the other to life and life abundantly.  

Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. Proverbs 10:12

Two things are compared in this verse in Proverbs.  They are hatred and love.  We see the emotions and choices of both of these things - and because Proverbs is all about wisdom, we also see what they eventually will yield.  If you need a proverb that will aid you in having good relationships, this would be a great one to learn.

First we see hatred.  The word used here is "sinah" and it means a strong feeling of hatred.  It is used of hatred that one human feels toward another.  This hatred can be so strong that it can lead to murder - but it doesn't always end this way.  Usually the manifestation is that it leads to dissension and unrest between two people - and often a broken relationship.  Hatred may begin as a feeling - but soon hatred will bring us to a choice.  The choice that is illustrated here is that of strife.  Where someone has hatred in their heart, strife and discord cannot be far behind.  We can choose to deal with our hatred in a biblical fashion - which is what the second half of this proverb relates to us.  But if we will not deal with our hatred biblically - then that hatred will result in strife.  We are told that hatred "stirs up" strife.  The concept here is that of arousing and awakening someone.  It refers to an agitating action.  Hatred is a motivator - and it wants to motivate someone and agitate them to where they start a fight.  This can be verbal - or as we have seen in worst case scenarios - even physical to the point of death.  That is why we must immediately respond to hate when it rises up within our hearts. 

We might find it interesting that God wants us to hate sin and hate evil.  These are things God does not want us to have decent relationships with in life.  We are to hate these things - and allow that hatred to stir us to stiving with sin and godlessness until we reject and refuse them in our lives.  But when hatred is felt toward "someone" we are walking in dangerous territory.

The second half of this proverb tells us that love covers all transgressions.  The words used here are very expressive.  The love that is mentioned here is the very love of a man for a woman or the love of God for His people.  This kind of love is selfless, self-giving love.  When we love like this - it covers all transgressions.  The word "cover" is the Hebrew word "kasah" and it means to clothe or conceal something.  This is not the "cover-up" that we refer to when speaking of illegal activity.  It is the covering and concealing that happens when one thing covers another.  This word was used to speak of what the water did to the Egyptians when God had the Red Sea cover them.  It is also used metaphorically in the Scripture of something that covers the shame of the guilty.  But in order to fully understand what is said here we need to combine all the words used.  Love covers all transgression.  Transgression speaks of rebellion against God and His Law.  It speaks of rebellion of one individual against another. 

Love chooses to cover over these times of rebellion.  When we look at this whole proverb we see that the usual response to transgression and rebellion is hatred and the strife that results from it.  But what God desires is for us to respond with love - so that relationships will be blessed - even when one party doesn't contribute or want peace.

The most awesome way we see this truth illustrated is by God Himself with sinful mankind.  We have chosen rebellion and disobedience - even hatred of the things of God.  Yet God in His love chooses not to judge us immediately.  His love was manifest fully in Christ.  He chose to love us - and God manifests His love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  This is love in its most glorious form.  That love covers all transgressions - and makes it possible for grace to bring salvation to men.  As we have reaped the glorious benefits of salvation from God's grace, may we also reap the blessings of donning His character in our response to slights of others.  This is the way to redeem a relationship rather than let it take the fallen,  natural course that is usually followed.  What a wisdom is ours when we see a whole way of relating to one another in the cross.  May God use it to bless you in your relationships in the weeks and months to come.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Or for rulers to desire strong drink, for they will drink and forget what is decreed, And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.  Proverbs 31:4-5

Mixing authority and alcohol is a very bad thing to do.  As Bathsheba gave her counsel to Solomon her son, she made clear to him that this was the case.  She said clearly to him that is was not for kings to drink wine or to desire strong drink.  These two terms, wine and strong drink both describe alcoholic drinks.  Wine refers to the fruit of the vine - grapes - but in the form of them squeezed and made into wine of a lower alcohol level.  Strong drink refers to drinks that are much stronger - probably something akin to whiskey or some type of grain alcohol.  It was usually used to get drunk quickly - and in some cases was used medicinally to act as a type of pain killer. 

Solomon is told that it is not right for a king to drink these things.  The reason that she gives to him for this prohibition is that if he does, there is a chance that he will drink and forget "what is decreed."  This is a reference to the Word of God.  For Israel, the Word of God was also the place where their civil law was found.  But either way the concern was that while in a drunken state, he might forget the civil law - or the law of God.  When he did, he would then forget the rights of the afflicted.  These are the less fortunate, the poor, and those who look to the king to defend their rights. 

Drunkenness causes us to function apart from wisdom.  When a man is drunk he does not think normally.  The alcohol leads him to excess in regard to his emotions.  It can also have a deadening effect when it comes to his normal moral restraints.  This is why it is not wise to mix drink and authority.  When you do, the person in authority is more likely to abuse it - because he will not be thinking properly so as to make godly judgments. 

For many are the victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain.  Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.  Proverbs 7:26-27

Today we come to the end of our look at overcoming sexual temptation in chapter 7 of Proverbs.  It ends with the father warning his sons one last time of the extreme dangers of the strange woman - the prostitute - the adulteress.  Just a note to dads out there.  This is the third time a warning has been issued to his sons by this father in as short as 18-20 verses.

First he refers to her victims as the mortally wounded.  Many, he says, are the mortally wounded that she has cast down.  The word victim here refers to those who have been mortally wounded in battle.  The world would have us view casual sex as something pleasurable alone - the Word tells us that it is something far more deadly.  It is part of the war to destroy men and women's souls.  When they depart from the Scriptures - they find themselves wounded badly - mortally by it.  It probably should be noted here that this primarily refers to a man committing adultery with this woman.  Although any sexual sin is deadly, the sin of adultery is more damaging in the end.  Most often it ends a marriage - and blows a family apart.  Those who have been through a divorce and a divided family know very well the damage such actions cause in the home.  But this is only one way that sexual immorality is dangerous.  There is also the specter of sexually transmitted diseases.  Consider the multiple stories of men who entered into adulterous affairs - only to find out later that they had not only contracted AIDS themselves, but they had passed their disease on to their innocent wives as well.  In this case death is brought to an entire household.  There are currently over 30 different sexually transmitted diseases that cannot be cured.  Do we really want to swim in the cesspool of the world of ungodly, immoral women and men with the state of our collective societal health in such disarray?

But there are worse things than just the diseases that come from sexual immorality.  There are the victims in the families - wives, children, and parents with broken hearts.  Testimonies that have been destroyed lie fallen and trampled by the effects of actions taken in the moment of unthinking, foolish passion.  The adulterous woman has seen numerous ones "cast down" in this way - and numerous slain because of the problems that have arisen in the end from the disease, the anger - even double murders due to one partner being so distraught that they first kill their spouse - and in remorse for their death - take their own lives.  All of them lie slain due to the horrific effects of sexual sin.

last thing this man says about sexual sin and the place the adulterous woman takes men - is that there is an address where she lives.  We are not talking about the physical address - wherever that is on the earth.  We are speaking of the ultimate address - Death.  Her house is the way to Sheol - the place of the dead.  It is a house that is a descent into chambers of death itself.  The word "chamber" here means a parlor or a room.  It is not a special word - but when it is further described by the father - it takes on a very ominous sense.  The chambers of death. 

I am not usually a fan of some of the modern paraphrases of the Bible - but here both the "Message" and the "Living Bible" are paraphrased in such a way that they almost make goosebumps rise on my arms.  Let me quote what they say about this last verse so you can read them and see a picture in your heads. 

The Message says in verse 27, "She runs a halfway house to hell, fits you out with a shroud and a coffin."  That is pretty expressive isn't it.  She promises pleasure and sexual fulfillment - but actually she is just a pit stop on the way to hell.  You think she is undressing you for a night of passion like no other, but actually she is just getting ready to outfit you with a death shroud and a coffin. 

The Living Bible states verse 27 this way, "If you want to find the road to hell, look for her house."  Can you imagine a road sign that does say "Main Street," or "Fifth Avenue," but rather - "Road to Hell."  Would you ever even want to be near that street - that pathway?  That is what the wise father tries to do for his son.  He seeks to paint such gruesome pictures - he may even tell true stories of the horrors of sexually transmitted diseases - of homes crushed and destroyed - of lives that crumbled - all for the purpose of warning his sons.  These are not just ways of graphically describing something - they are promises from God - warning signs for us along the road to sexual immorality and adultery.  Ignoring them is just as stupid as ignoring a bridge out sign.  May God give us first the wisdom to heed His word for our own lives - and then may He also fill us with the wisdom and the Spirit to warn our sons in a way that engraves the truth about such things deep in their minds - reaching even to the innermost parts of their hearts and spirits.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And pay attention to the words of my mouth.  Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths.   Proverbs 7:24-25

After giving a graphic description of the way a man falls into the trap of the harlot, the Holy Spirit gives a conclusion.  God begins by having the father call for his sons to listen and pay attention.  Here is a huge problem - and one I understand.  Most people know the thing they should do about temptations to commit adultery or to visit a prostitute.  The problem is not knowing - it is listening when someone is warning them.  Very few of the sins of which I've been guilty were committed because I did not know the morally proper thing to do.  They were committed because I was not listening to the warnings of the Holy Spirit as I was being tempted.  They were committed because I ignored godly counsel that had been given to me. 

The wise father reiterates the truth to his sons again and again.  He doesn't just talk to them or lecture them - he calls them to listen as he speaks.  The word "listen" here does not mean just having the biological functions of the ear working properly.  The word means to listen so as to comprehend, to discern, to give earnest heed, to be diligent in obeying what is said.  The wise, godly father knows about distractions.  That is why he calls his son to listen diligently with a view to discerning obedience that flows from fully comprehending what he has said to his son.  The second phrase he uses here as he speaks is this, "pay attention."  This phase means to listen and pay attention so as to give heed and to obey what is said.  Dads, be careful to gain not just your son's ears - but to aim directly for their heart. 

The first thing that is said to the son is that he does not need to turn aside to her ways in his heart.  There is the first problem when it comes to men who get caught up in sexual immorality and adultery.  Their hearts are the first thing to go.  This manifests itself first in seeing their hearts no longer being given to the Lord.  In the third chapter of Revelation Jesus says to the church that they've lost their first love - that love that draws them to the Lord and has them belong to Him more than anything else.

I've seen this before in young people - old people - anyone who finds themselves drawn away to sexual sin.  They start when they no longer have that passion for Christ.  They turn to someone other than the Lord - looking for satisfaction - for something to fill their emptiness.  They find that the Lord is not enough - and that they will actually find what they need in someone else.  That is how a man allows himself to "turn his heart" to her ways.  When his heart is gone - there is a real serious danger - because at that point he probably won't listen.  It isn't too much to say - he can't listen - because his heart controls what his ears will listen to in life. 

Once he has strayed in his heart from the Lord - and into her ways - then he begins to stray into her paths.  He begins walking without the normal cautions that he would have naturally.  But worse than this is the fact that he is walking without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  He is grieving the Holy Spirit so his warnings are no longer being heeded.  This is a very dangerous place to be.  When he does stray into her paths - there will not be the protection that he normally has.  Thus - it will be that much easier to fall into sin.

Wise fathers want to speak to their sons about these things.  They want to not just fill their ears with lecture after lecture.  The godly father wants to gain access to his son's heart.  He wants to lay the protections and the guard rails there.  That way his sons know that the battle is for their minds first - and for the hearts most.  I am not opposed at all to doing exactly what this father does - and that is tell a cautionary tale to his son - filled with truth - and with the consequences of not guarding their hearts against the wiles of the strange, adulterous, sexually forward woman.  Share even frightening details of what the possibilities are when they sin sexually.  You are not using fear when you do - but you are using wisdom and truth.  These are the allies that are needed to win the war against sexual temptation.

Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool, Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life. Proverbs 7:22-23

For the past several days we've been looking at how to overcome sexual temptation through the example of a fool who did not.  Today we come to the sad choice that this man makes to enter into adultery - and the terrifying way that it is described.  Just a point of reference first though to remind us of the context of this passage.  This is a father warning his son of these things - and doing so through a story of a man who did not walk in wisdom when it came to his sexuality.  Dads . . . I know I am talking to you a lot in these posts - but it is only because your role as a father is absolutely critical.  Please talk to your sons - and do so in an honest and straight forward way as this father does.  Don't succomb to passivity in this role - because I can promise you that the world is not being passive in the way it is trying to deceive your sons in to the opposite choices for sexual immorality.

Suddenly seems such a strange word here - because we've watched this man act foolishly for quite a while now.  But suddenly does describe the way men enter into the act of adultery.  There is something intrinsic that resists adultery and sexual immorality in us.  God has drawn a line in our spirits and souls - and it is one that we have to consciously cross to sin in this way.  There is resistance all along the way - but when we push against those inner barriers - they give all at once.  The choice to do this is a kind of all at once moment in our lives.  We push and ignore the barrier - until it breaks . . . all at once.  Then we follow our lusts into far more dangerous territory. 

Note here that he follows her.  Men, that is not the way that this is supposed to work.  God calls us to lead women, not follow them.  But far too often men are passive and allow women to lead them.  Here, we watch a man ignore his vows, ignore the warnings of the Holy Spirit, ignore the intrinsic barriers to this sin - and follow a woman - into a sexual tryst.  Unfortunately too many men have done just this - follow a strange woman sexually into sin.  They are not leading in any way spiritually - they just follow where sin points them.  But what is truly terrifying here is the picture that is painted for us of just where she is leading him.  All along this passage seems to be building to a sex scene of monumental proportions.  The flesh salaciously is waiting for the sordid description of the act itself - yet none will be given here.  Instead we read that what this fool is doing is compared to an ox going to the slaughter.  It is like waking up from a great dream suddenly gone bad.  This is not a pleasure palace - but a poisoned pit!  The is not ecstasy - it is the end!  The ox is going to have his throat slit - be grabbed by the feet or impaled by a hook - and is going to hang thrashing until his death by bleeding out.  What a picture of what a few minutes of forbidden pleasure has in store for us. 

There are more pictures for us to have forever etched into our hearts about sexual sin.  The second is that he is going to the discipline of a fool in fetters.  The world lies to us telling us that when we give ourselves over to our fleshly desires we will be free - free from the fetters of a God who does not want us to experience pleasure.  The truth is that the freedom is in marriage - with our wives.  The bondage is in sexual immorality.  The fool is first fettered - bound hand and foot - and then led to the place where he will be disciplined.  That usually involved both a financial cost - and most likely 39 lashes upon his back with a whip or with rods.  Sooo - how does sexual immorality look now?

The next picture is of a man whose liver is pierced with an arrow.  The Hebrew commentaries on Scripture infer that this is a deer that is being pierced by an arrow.  The pain of that injury is severe - and fatal - but please note something important to see with this wound.  The liver is the organ in our body that promotes purity in our blood.  It literally cleanses our blood each time it passes through the liver.  But when this man enters into the adulterous relationship, he is being pierced throught the one organ that cleanses our life itself.  Remember Scripture says that the life of anything is in the blood.  Here the life of this man is being polluted by his sin.  But this sin does more than just pollute - it pollutes while also doing great damage to our ability to be purified.  Paul makes an amazing statement in 1 Corinthians 6:18 when he says, "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body."

Immorality is a sin against our bodies themselves.  When we join ourselves to a prostitute or an immoral woman - we are damaging our very bodies.  That is true physically through things like sexually transmitted diseases.  But it is also true spiritually.  I work with men - seeking to disciple them so that they will follow Jesus Christ.  THE area I hear most trips men up is THIS AREA.  That is why Paul's counsel in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is this, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?  For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body."  God wants us to glorify Him with our bodies - and that means fleeing sexual immorality.  When we do not - we are piercing not just our spiritual condition - but we are seriously weaking our ability to be cleansed and fight sin period.

Next is the picture of a bird actually running toward a snare.  What a strange picture.  A bird running to get caught and killed.  But that is what a man entering into sexual sin is doing.  He does not see the snare - nor does he recognize the camouflage.  All he sees is the bait - and he doesn't even recognize it as bait.  His lusts and desires are driving him and all he sees is momentary fulfillment.

The last statement made to us is a warning.  The fool here does not know that this will cost him his life.  Once a man commits physical adultery - there is radical change coming for him in his life.  Don't lose all hope if you've sinned in this way, because adultery is not the unforgiveable sin.  But, it is a sin that costs dearly.  Ask David.  He will tell you that it pretty much cost him the life he once knew.  Everything was different after that.  We need to see this as well.  Once we enter into adultery - and even when we enter into sexual sin - everything is different.  There will be a battle after that - and it will be a difficult one.  That is why the father is going to such lengths to warn his son in this passage.  He is trying to do everything in his power to help his son see that such a path is not just dangerous - it is fatal!  May God give us fathers wisdom to look at our own lives, our own struggles, possibly even our own failures - and warn our sons diligently to beware of sexual sin.  May we use the wisdom God offers to us here - and teach them the dangers of such activity - and hopefully rear a generation of young men who will be less likely to step into sin when facing sexual temptation.

With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him. Proverbs 7:21

This is a summary statement of all that we've been looking at the past several days about overcoming sexual temptation - only in the reverse - learning from someone who did not overcome it - but succumbed to it instead.

Two things led to this fool's demise.  First is that he allowed the adulteress to have the opportunity to have "many persuasions" in her time with him.  This points to a simple, yet oft ignored, truth about the appropriateness of man/woman relationships outside of marriage.  Too often as American's we scoff at other cultures who limit the amount of contact a man has with a woman.  We tend to scoff at their emphasis on modesty in clothing too - for which we are double fools in this society.  The fact is that there is an appropriate way for men and women to interact - and an inappropriate way.  Let me explain.

Most affairs begin far from the bedroom.  They start with the beginning of an inappropriate relationship between a man and a woman.  These relationships almost always begin with one of the other starting to share the problems.  With rapt attention the other listens - because usually they share a problem of intimacy with their mate.  By intimacy I am not referring to their sexual relationship - but to the fact that they rarely talk any longer.  This is due to the busy-ness of life or problems and barriers that have developed over the long-term of their marriage.  Since neither of them are really working on this aspect of their marriages - they find someone willing to talk a wondeful thing.  They do not intend on committing adultery during that first discussion - but nevertheless - they do enter into a man/woman relating to each other that is inappropriate.  This builds as they share more and more - and reveal deeper and deeper levels of intimacy.  At one point - sexual tension enters into their relationship.  If they do not do a Barney Fife action (i.e. "Nip it in the bud!") they are now on a fast track to adultery.  This is because it is not wise for a man to have a "best friend" that is a woman once he is married.  In some ways this probably doesn't apply to long-term best friends of the past - although a wise man will shift this kind of friendship toward his wife.  But to make a "new" best friend of a woman is never a wise thing to do. 

There is another scenario here as well - and that is the fool who is already in trouble - who is kinda seeking another woman.  This fool already has one foot in the grave - but he is quickly putting the other one in the longer he talks to the woman who is persuading him to have adultery.  The wisest thing a man can do when a woman other than his wife makes any kind of remote advance is to run.  The Scriptures tell us to "flee youthful lusts and pursue faith, righteousness, love, and peace with those who call upon the Lord with a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22).  The next wisest thing he can do is to tell either an accountability partner of the advance - or honestly - tell his wife.  The second is the wisest choice.  It truly nips this thing in the bud - and it lets his wife know that she needs to watch this woman.  Don't be a fool and ever allow a woman to give any more than one persuasion to entice you away from God and from your marriage vows. 

The second thing we see in this passage is that this woman catches this man with her "flattering lips."  As I've written in another post - men have this thing called an ego.  When we are wise to allow only our wives to stroke our ego - or allow recognition from colleagues at work to do this - or our children - we are being discerning.  When we do this for even a moment with another woman other than our wives - we are allowing pride and utter stupidity to drive our ego.  Believe me when I say that we do not want these things working in our ego for even a moment unchecked.  This adulteress takes the time to say nice things about the fool.  She strokes his ego with her flattery - which to be honest is something that might be lacking at home.  That is why men give in to this trap.  Let me help you for a moment.  If this woman marries you after your current marriage is destroyed - and then lives with you as long as your wife has - you've got to know that she probably won't be flattering your ego much either!  That is why we MUST grasp that these "flatteries" are nothing more than lies.  When you hear them think of the cheese on a mouse trap.  Looks awfully inviting - except for that snapping bar that will break your neck as soon as you take a bite.  Flattery from a strange woman might not break your neck instantly - but know that the bar is coming at some point - and your spiritual and marital neck will be broken - possibly beyond remedy. 

Men . . . I know that your ego will tell you that it's kinda nice to know that someone still thinks your handsome - wonderful - even sexy.  But that little spark you felt in your heart when that happened is prelude to a forrest fire that will destroy beyond imagination.  It is a lie - and it is going to be very destructive if you don't see it for what it is.  It is cheese, brothers!  It is cheese on a trap set to catch and kill you!  Don't ever think for even a moment that it is anything less - because when you do - you are one step closer to that bar breaking your neck.

Like an archer who wounds everyone, So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by. Proverbs 26:10

Proverbs chapter 26 is primarily about the fool.  Of the chapters in Proverbs, this one has more about the fool than any other chapter.  Here we have what happens when someone in business makes the mistake of hiring a fool or who does not take the proper time to vet those whom he hires. 

This particular verse in Proverbs has very interesting translations.  If you've read the King James translation of this passage, it is quite different than what we have here, but the Hebrew is based out of a slight difference between two words that are close in their pronunciation.  The idea here is to compare the damage wrought by a crazy archer who is wounding those who pass by - and the man who hires people indiscriminately for his business.

Several years ago there was a sniper who terrorized the Washington D.C. area by randomly shooting people.  This caused fear all over the area.  Can you imagine an archer who decided to wound everyone who passed by him?  The horror and the terror would be unbelievable.  There would be problems as anyone who walked by would be shot for no reason at all.  There would be fear for everyone because of the crazy man who was injuring people all over the place.  This is compared to a businessman who hires a fool.

The statement here is telling for those who are in the business world.  The man who hires a fool is preparing everyone who works for him - as well as everyone who partakes of his buisness for trouble.  The fool is arrogant, he is selfish and self-centered.  He thinks he is wiser than seven men who all are able to answer questions wisely.  He repeats his stupidity again and again and does not learn from the troublesome things his actions cause.  He is lazy and undisciplined - is constantly late because he loves his sleep more than hard work - is a glutton - and is unable to process any kind of advice or help offered to him.  You are looking at a hiring disaster here.  This would be a worker who would bring dishonor to his employer - and - who would eventually bring great harm to the business itself.  The worst part of all this is that everyone who comes into contact with the fool that he has hired - will be injured as a result.  Kinda like a crazy archer who shoots everyone who passes by him.

There is another warning given here to employers.  All these things are also equated to the businessman who simply hires those who pass by.  The idea here is that the employees are not interviewed or properly vetted.  The businessman just hired anyone who passes by him.  When this is done - disaster is eminent.  Businesses need to check out who they hire.  Wisdom and great care need to be taken in whom you hire to work for you.  I remember while in seminary talking with my boss at UPS.  I worked there loading trucks to make a living for my family while in school.  They wanted to hire additional students from my school, but asked me to be wise when I told people about the position.  They wanted men and women who were willing to work hard - because it cost them a great deal to train someone.  My boss told me it took almost 3 months for a new hire to actually begin making the company money.  Therefore to just "hire those who pass by" was the worst kind of foolishness.  If the worker did not work out, they not only lost the profitability of three months - but actually lost more.  They would have to start all over again trying to train the next person.  Therefore he made it clear to me that just hiring "anyone who passes by" was very detrimental to the health and success of the business.

The average business owner knows this and does interviews in order to find the most qualified candidates.  But the one who does not - is taking the chance that he might have hired a fool.  That man is taking very serious risks with his business.  Nice to know that the wisdom of God has our backs on business issues like this . . . if we'll listen. 

Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;  Proverbs 23:20

Yesterday we looked at how a father can aim straight for the heart when warning his son against lifestyles that will cause him to be self-destructive.  Today, we will look at how he warns his son. 

The father makes it clear that those who drink wine heavily - and those who eat gluttonously, aree going to face some difficult times later in life.  There are those who drink heavily.  They consume a lot of beer, wine, or hard liquor.  We are warned not to be among these people.  Heavy drinking will eventually lead to alcoholism - which is a stronghold of sin that is very difficult to break.  Over the years I've been a pastor, I've worked with several men who suffered from a stronghold of alcoholism.  They were drunks who drank until it became a very self-destructive habit.  It was heart-breaking to see some of them struggle for years with this sin.  Jesus is able to deliver us from anything - any habit - any addictive behavior.  But we would be far better off if we never needed HIs deliverance from such things.  That is why we should be warning our sons and daughters against drinking heavily.  But the father also is warning his child against being a glutton as well.  Here is a sin that is seldom if ever addressed - especially if there is a potluck after church that day.

Gluttony is a sin.  That is clear from reading the Word of God.  Just as a person can become addicted to alcohol - he can also become addicted to food as well.  If you don't mind me being a little open here - this is a sin with which I struggle personally.  I tend to eat too much - and at times I've been accused to being addicted to cookies (chocolate chip in particular) - but I can stop eating them whenever I want.  All joking aside, overcoming gluttony has been a battle for me.  As I've fought it - winning sometimes and losing others - I've seen where food has been an idol in my life.  I will run to it to comfort me - instead of running to God.  The excess in eating - also lends itself to excess in other areas as well.  This is a sin we should warn our children about falling into in life.  If it is not overcome - it will lead to very serious consequences.  The reason that we do not see them - is because they are consequences that come over a much longer period of time.  Yet they are coming to the glutton - just as the consequences of drunkenness and alcoholism are coming to the heavy drinker as well.

We are wise when we see these sins of heavy drinking and gluttony and warn our children against them.  We need to warn them that there are very serious problems that develop because of them.  If they continue in them - they can even become life-threatening.  Tomorrow, we will take a look at the consequences of these choices - and - we will see how the wise father seeks to warn his children of them - while seeking to reach their hearts.