Proverbs 5:1-23
Occasionally I hear very disturbing news: someone I know has committed adultery… Someone who I thought was devoted to their spouse and their Lord. In some cases, it is a preacher, elder, deacon, or Bible class teacher. Sometimes leaving a spouse and children to live with their adulterous partner. My reaction is usually, “What are they thinking...?” How can they do such a thing to their spouse and children? How can they turn their back on the Lord who died for them? Do they not know the terrible consequences of adultery? Though not a pleasant subject, it is necessary to be frequently reminded of the terrible price of the sin of adultery. How one can prevent the sin of adultery? One of the best places to turn to is the book of Proverbs. In Pro 5:1-6 (please read), we find a warning against the bitter end of adultery.
Continuing with Pro 5:7-14 we are told of the price of adultery. It can cost your wealth. Solomon pleads with his children to stay away from the immoral woman - Pro 5:7-8 “And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,”. His first reason: “Lest you give your honor to others...” - Pro 5:9a. He reiterates: “Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, And your labors go to the house of a foreigner.” - Pro 5:10. -- Alimony and child support can eat away at your finances.
It can cost your physical health. Solomon’s second reason: “...and your years to the cruel one.” - Pro 5:9b. He adds: “And you mourn at last, when your flesh and body are consumed.” - Pro 5:11. Bacterial STDs (for example, chlamydia, syphilis, gonorrhea) are often brought on by immorality; viral STDs (for example, genital herpes, Hepatitis B, AIDS) are incurable. -- Sexually transmitted diseases can eat away at your body.
It can cost your mental health. You will be filled with self-recrimination: “How I hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!” - Pro 5:12-13. You will not forget what your parents, teachers, preachers, and true friends told you. As you recall the violent affects of divorce on your spouse (and on your children who will likely suffer the worst), you will berate your stupidity! - Mal 2:16 "For the man who hates and divorces, says the LORD, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the LORD of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless." -- Your conscience can eat away at your peace of mind.
It can cost your reputation. As suggested by these words: “I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” - Pro 5:14. People do not take lightly the sin of adultery - Pro 6:27-35. Can a person be trusted who would lie to their spouse? -- Your unfaithfulness can eat away at your reputation.
Adultery destroys one’s wealth, body, soul, and reputation. Forgiveness is possible (1 Co 6:9-11), but many affects of adultery continue throughout one’s life. It is better for one to take to heart the prevention of adultery. Love your spouse. Rejoice with the wife of your youth; be enraptured by her love - Pro 5:15-19 “Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.”; Ecc 9:9 “Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.” Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church - Ep 5:25,28 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,” – “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.” Wives, learn to love your husbands - Ti 2:3-4 “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,” Why be enraptured by an adulteress (adulterer) and seductress (seducer)? - Pro 5:20 “Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?” One’s true character is revealed by their immorality. If they commit adultery with you, they are likely to commit adultery against you! -- Enraptured love is commanded, which means it can be learned (and relearned).
Love Your Lord. The Lord is omniscient, and sins will have their effect - Pro 5:21-23 “For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.” He sees all - Pro 15:3 “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” God will judge fornicators and adulterers - He 13:4 “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” When one sins against the Lord, their sins will be exposed - Num 32:23 “But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.” How much better to love the Lord, and be loyal to Him. He looks for those loyal to Him - cf. 2 Chr 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him. You have done foolishly in this, for from now on you will have wars."’; Mt 22:37 “And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Joseph’s devotion to God prevented him from being tempted – see Gen 39:7-10. The Lord blessed Joseph because of his faithfulness – see Gen 39:21; 41:50-52. -- Those who love the Lord foremost, love their spouses forever!
The price of adultery is terrible.... Which too many learn by sad experience. Which all can avoid by heeding God’s Word. The prevention of adultery is possible when our love is in the right place.... Loving the Lord with all our heart. Loving our spouses with God’s blessing. Do not destroy the lives of so many with misdirected affection...!
