stephen R Harrison

Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. -Proverbs 7:27

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 pulls up on his motorcycle. As he sat on his bike, he intently watched three young women walk into 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 was saddened 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 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 (1-5). Wisely keeping the commands of Scripture will keep us from “the adulterous woman” and her “seductive words (5). Proverbs 7:6-9 describes 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 must to escape that situation. Run like Joseph did in Genesis 39 and Paul commanded in 1 Corinthians 6:18. In Proverbs 7:10-20, the woman seduced the married man by the way she dressed (10), kissed (13), and even described her bed (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 told him her husband wouldn’t be home for some time (19-20). It is not a good idea to go alone into another woman’s home (or any place), especially her bedroom. I even advise against eating alone with a woman who isn’t your wife. You’re asking for trouble! Married men should not have another woman for a best friend.  It just isn’t wise. 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 (22-23). In other words, it’s a trap! Don’t be fooled. Be wise and make righteous choices. Don’t think you are above sexual sin destroying your marriage and family. Lust has slain many (26) and led numerous down the “highway to the grave” and the “chambers of death” (27). Think wisely, honor the Lord, and be one with your wife! Be a faithful, one-woman, godly man of honor and integrity! 

Questions to Ponder

1. Are there any potentially compromising relationships in your life?
2. When it comes to lust, what boundaries have you crossed (or not set up) or seen as irrelevant when it comes to preventing even the appearance of evil?
3. What verse stands out the most to you?
4. What other questions came to mind?

Actions to Take

1. Think through your actions and motives when it comes to women. Are there any that could be seen as compromising?
2. Write Scriptures you can use to combat lust.

Scriptures to Read

Proverbs 5:3, 5:15-19, 6:25, 7:5

Prayers to Pray

Jesus, I need your Spirit’s help overcoming lust and walking in purity. I do not want my actions or motives regarding women to be misunderstood. Help me see them as people made in your image. Help me crucify lust and any unholy passions. Show me any wicked ways I have or am leaning towards and replace them with righteous ones.