Avoid Seduction

INTRO

Proverbs 5 especially addresses the men. What we’re going to talk about today is extremely sensitive in nature. It feels like half of America has been entrenched in Proverbs 5, and truthfully, some of those in the church have been entrenched as well. This message is in no way meant to judge or condemn anyone today. I want to walk through chapter 5 right where you are today. My prayer is that God uses this lesson as a preventative, to lead us to walk the right path. This chapter is about sexual temptation. Wiersbe reminds us God created sex, and He has every right to tell us how to use it.¹ Sex is one area Satan wants to influence and take what God has intended for good and use it for evil and destruction. Wiersbe explains sexual sin can lead to “disappointment and disillusionment” and cause the sinner “to search for larger ‘doses’ of sexual adventure in order to attain the imaginary pleasure level they’re seeking.”²

TEACHING

Proverbs 5:1-6: In verse 1, Solomon told his son to listen to his wisdom. As we said a couple of days ago, these chapters were written before Solomon took his eyes off the Lord. In this section, Solomon wrote about the dangers of seduction. He compared the lips of his innocent young son with those of forbidden women who would try to seduce him (vv. 2–3). Solomon knew the young man would be lured to these women who knew exactly what they were doing. Solomon understood that the women, once they had gotten what they wanted, would become bitter and sharp to the son (v. 4). Satan can use those women to cause pain, disappointment, and destruction. In fact, in verse 5, her journey will end in Sheol—in death. Constable explains, “The temptress comes with words that are sweet (flattering) and smooth (delightful, v. 3). Nevertheless, if swallowed, they make the person tempted by them feel bitter (ashamed) and wounded (hurt, v. 4). Even flirting produces this effect sometimes.”³

Often, it’s the little things that can lead us down a dark path. Constable states the forbidden woman “has no concern with living a truly worthwhile life but only with gaining some immediate physical and emotional thrill (v. 6).”⁴ People don’t think about the consequences of the actions they take before they act. There’s a news story of 20 men who walked into a massage parlor who were arrested for prostitution. You know they weren’t thinking about getting caught and facing consequences, but just wanted to satisfy physical urges at that moment.

Proverbs 5:7–14: Solomon moved on to talk about what unfaithfulness would cost his son. He told his son to stay away from her and not even go near the door of her house (vv. 7–8). Temptations are unavoidable and are all around us (Genesis 4:7). Solomon told his son to stay away to avoid the temptation (2 Timothy 2:22). Sadly, we’ve so isolated ourselves from others that no one even knows when we’re hanging around a door that we shouldn’t even be near. Constable states, “The price of unfaithfulness is so high that it is unreasonable. Therefore, one is wise to avoid tempting himself or herself by continuing to admire the ‘merchandise.’ Most marital infidelity occurs because the parties involved continue to spend time together. Here Solomon advised avoiding the company of a temptress.”⁵ Wiersbe stresses, “God created sex not only for reproduction but also for enjoyment, and He didn’t put the ‘marriage wall’ around sex to rob usof pleasure but to increase pleasure and protect it.”⁶ This is why Solomon told his son to stay away from that door. Otherwise, going through that door would cost his son his vitality and tie him to someone who was cruel and uncaring and exploitive (vv. 9–10). Even his health could be taken. Solomon assured his son that at the end of his life, he would recognize that he had hated discipline when it could have saved him (vv. 12–14).

Proverbs 5:15–23: In verses 15–23, Solomon addressed why fidelity is important. These verses are extremely graphic of a man and woman having intercourse. Solomon emphasized with the description that intercourse is meant for a husband and wife and no one else. Intercourse is not meant to be shared with strangers and prostitutes. Intercourse is meant only between husband and wife: “drink water from your own cistern” (vv. 15–17). Instead, take pleasure in “the wife of your youth.” If marriage is hard, stick it out, ask God to help, and do your best to save the marriage God created you for.

In marriage, people sometimes get bored with their spouses and long for someone else to satisfy them. But Solomon told his son to be lost in his wife’s body and her love forever (vv. 19–20). The word “infatuated” in verse 20 actually means “ravished” or “intoxicated.”⁷ Wiersbe states, “The adulterer watches the river turn into a sewer, but the faithful husband sees the water become wine.”⁸ Verses 21–23 point out that we cannot get away with any sexual sin without God knowing about it. God knows everything—what’s on your phone and your computer. You can’t hide any of it from Him. Verses 22–23 say the wicked man is trapped in the ropes of his own sin (John 8:34, 36; Romans 6:16), and he will die because he had no discipline.

CLOSING

If you get seduced into a situation, it’s because of selfishness. It’s because you’re not thinking about anyone but yourself. You become stupid, because temptation has captured you. But Christ is in the business of setting people free. Your stupidity is not too big for Christ to fix. Stay away from the seduction and keep your eyes on Jesus Christ. It’s not too late for you to throw away your phone, get a new phone number, close social media—whatever it takes to burn that door.

Fight for your marriage as long as you can. Dave Willis lists ways to fight for your marriage:

• Take a break from all forms of criticism, nagging, or sarcasm.
• Find something positive to encourage and affirm your spouse.
• Choose the right support system.
• Pray for your spouse and your marriage.⁹

I’d add one more. Every day, I pick up my wife so the kids will see that we are physically connected. When you do these things, you can close the door to temptation and the gap between you and your spouse.