Once while shopping with my wife, I waited in the car while she went in to return an item.  While waiting, I noticed a married guy from my church pull up on his motorcycle.  As he sat on his bike, he intently watched three young women walk in the store at different times.  The last one he yelled at and noticeably flirted.  His lustful lingering was caught off guard as I walked up to him and said hello.  Shocked, he nervously stuttered, “Hey, pastor”.  I lovingly and gently said, “John (not his real name), remember to bounce your eyes.  Make a covenant with your eyes to not look lustfully at a woman who isn’t your wife (Job 31:1).”  I wasn’t surprised when a few months later I heard he had committed adultery on his wife.  Undisciplined thoughts, hands, mouths, and eyes will get you in trouble.  Lust begins in the mind, is expressed through words and actions, but reveals the heart. Three times in Proverbs 1-7, Solomon warned against the dangers and destruction of sexual sin. This is because the devil uses lust to steal, kill, and destroy from men. The “adulterous woman” is lust personified. But make no mistake, you should not lust after anyone who is not your wife!

Solomon, again, reminds us to keep wisdom in the forefront (vv. 1-5).  Wisely keeping the commands of Scripture will keep us from “the adulterous woman” and her “seductive words” (v. 5).  Proverbs 7:6-9 describe a foolish young man who thinks he can play around with lust and not be harmed.  Too many times I’ve seen married men flirting with women they are not married to only to later lead to an affair.  Men, you cannot play around with this!  If you find yourself tempted, do whatever you have to do to get out of that situation.  Run like Joseph did in Genesis 39 and Paul commanded in 1 Corinthians 6:18. In Proverbs 7:10-20, the woman is seducing the married man by the way she dresses (v. 10), kisses (v. 13), and even the description of her bed (vv. 16-17).  Anytime another woman starts talking to you about her wardrobe, sexual touch, or her bedroom, do not continue the conversation.  Stop immediately and get out of there!  She goes on to tell him her husband won’t be home for some time (vv. 19-20).  It is not a good idea to go alone into another woman’s home (or any place), especially her bedroom.  You’re asking for trouble!  Married men should not eat alone with other women.   Married men should not have another woman for a best friend.  I don’t even meet with women alone to avoid accusation and temptation.  That’s wisdom right there!

Lastly, Solomon illustrated how the foolish young man followed the adulterous woman and started acting like an animal! To be clear, the man is as much an adulterer as the adulterous woman.  Solomon called him an ox headed to slaughter, a deer stepping in a noose, and a bird entering a snare (v. 22-23).  In other words, it’s a trap!  Don’t be fooled, be wise and make the righteous choice.  Don’t think you are above sexual sin destroying your marriage and family.  Lust has slain many (v. 26) and led numerous down the “highway to the grave” and the “chambers of death” (v. 27).  Think wisely, honor the Lord, and be one with your wife!  Be a faithful, one-woman godly man of honor and integrity! 

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.