A double edged sword

Good Morning! Have you ever met anyone who just seemed to say the right thing at the right time? I have a girlfriend who is the kindest person I've ever met, she knows how to pay a compliment at just the right time and she is sincere. It is a joy to be with her! She knows how to correct as well and the words of correction go deep into the heart. In Proverbs 5, we see Solomon being warned by his father that there are people out there who are not so sincere: "For the lips of an adultress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword." Vs. 3-4 He is warned to keep away from her, far away, he is not to go near her door or he will be giving his strength to another and years to one who is cruel...at the end of his life he will regreat and groan his choices. The adultress desires to draw men away from purity in a marriage. As an alternative to this "adultress woman" he is to drink water from his own cisterns. To love his wife and not another. He is to "rejoice in the wife of your youth." In the book of Hebrews we read: "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral." Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church. When a member of the church, someone who belongs to Christ, commits adultery (sexual immorality) it is a sin against their own body as well as against the Lord. Our world is filled with immorality. T.V. shows flaunt it and promote it and movies do the same. They don't realize or purposely remain blind to the consequences of this type of sin. How are you going to protect your families from these things? Will you speak honestly with those you love and give the advice that was given to Solomon? If you are married will you love your husband and set a quality example of a loving marriage? Will you look through your movie library and remove anything that would defile? If Christians stop buying the "worlds entertainment" the movie industry would be forced to provide clean entertainment. Chapter 5 goes on to say: "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths...he will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly." Vs. 21,23 We often think no one sees our activity, when it is in full view of the LORD. He has a perfect standard and there is blessing in following in His ways, there are dire consequences to those who divert from the path. These words don't seem like words that seem sweet but if we heed what Solomon was being taught and teach it to our children and those who have influence over we will save them a great deal of pain. Let's use our words to tell the truth so that the wise who put these truths into action will be spared this doubled edged sword.

Fatherly advice

Good morning! As we move along in the book of Proverbs (I'm afraid we are skimming it for sure) we last read in Chapter 4 some fatherly advice. We were told to pay attention and gain understanding from our father's wisdom. When Solomon's father spoke to him, he was the only son of his mother at the time. He was told to "lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live." Many of our parents gave us sound advice and we were wise to listen and heed it. We are told that wisdom will protect us and wisdom will watch over us. (vs.6) Wisdom is there to guide us, to honor us, it will be a garland of grace on our heads and a crown of splendor. (vs. 8-9) We are told to "hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life." vs. 13 The opposite to this is explained in Vs. 14-15 "Do not set your foot on the path of the wicked, or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." Evil men cannot sleep until they do evil, they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. How true in our day and age as we see T.V. commericals for new movies full of wickedness and violence. A wise women will keep these types of shows out of the reach of their children and husbands for that matter. Solomon goes on to explain that the path of the righteous is like the first gleam, of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. The light of dawn and wisdom from God verses the darkness of night and the ways of evil. In vs. 18-19 His father exhorted him to pay close attention to his words, to not let them out of his sight, and to keep them within his heart. "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." vs. 23 Our hearts are guarded when we read the Word of God and apply it diligently to our lives. When we say no to the worlds winning ways, when we say no to the flesh that wars against our souls and not to the devil and his angels who wait to cause us to stumble. He ends the chapter with: "let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Let us exhort one another and especially our children, if we have them, to walk in the light and keep their hearts and ways only for the Lord.