It takes two to tango, the old song lyric goes. To put it bluntly, prostitutes would have no job if the John’s didn’t show up and pay. We can’t put the blame on the women. The men are just as guilty as they are.
The next three chapters of Proverbs are filled with exhortation and illustration of what happens when anyone gets involved sexually with someone outside the bonds of marriage. Our culture dismisses this premise, but it is proved wrong by the facts. The best place for children to grow up and the most satisfying sexual relationships are within a lifelong marriage, man and woman. Despite the cultural trend away from marriage, the facts remain the same. So let’s begin to dive into the text.
Verse three give us a poignant picture of the thrill of an elicit sexual encounter. Lips dripping with honey, who wouldn’t want to dive in? These kinds of encounters must be thrilling in that moment. The pleasure must override all the negative consequences that will inevitably come (vv4-6). Having talked to hundreds of divorced and divorcing couples down through the years, I have never heard of such a breakup that was filled with joy. Even the best, if there is such a thing on the negative side of this equation, have their pain.
If you get involved, be ready for aimless living. The pain will be greater than the reward. The pleasure is short-lived, while the pain is long-lasting. Read carefully the negative consequences of these types of choices. Read it again. Yikes!
Verse eight gives us some good advice, which we will hear stated several different ways in the coming chapters. The writer tells us to avoid even getting close to the temptation. Alcoholics need to stay away from places that sell and consume alcohol. Problem shoppers need to stay away from the places they purchase things. Notice he tells us to choose a different path, one that takes us far from the temptation.
Too often believers try to see how close they can get to the temptation. They want to walk the thin line between sin and righteousness. The writer tells us to do just the opposite: choose a path far from the temptation. We get to choose the path. At the end of your life, you will regret walking over the line. You will probably have lost what is most valuable.
The Arnold Journey 