(31 DAYS IN PROVERBS) PART FIVE - PROVERBS 5: THE TRUTH ABOUT TEMPTATION is

PROVERBS 5: THE TRUTH ABOUT TEMPTATION
Proverbs 5 is a warning against adultery and depicts an unfaithful woman attempting to lure a man into her trap. Verses 3-5 say the adulterous woman has lips that “drip honey” and speech that is “smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave” (emphasis mine). I want to call your attention to three words in verse 4: in the end.
Quite often people live as though there is no tomorrow, but tomorrow always comes. In other words, we may behave as though our actions have no consequences, but they do; eventually we will be faced with having to deal with them. Our actions today will produce either tomorrow’s joy or tomorrow’s sorrow. It’s up to us!
Temptation is a part of life; even Jesus was tempted (Luke 4:1-13). But Hebrews 4:15 (NIV) says that Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Just as He was able to resist temptation, through our life in Christ, we can too.
The enemy tries to convince us that we simply cannot resist the temptation to sin. We should never allow him to get away with this, because we definitely can resist temptation. God has promised to never allow more to come on us than what we can bear. With every temptation He will “provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV).
Proverbs Chapter 5 is a warning against adultery, but the principles it teaches apply to all kinds of temptations to sin. Read the whole chapter and note the consequences of yielding to temptation as well as the wisdom it gives for overcoming it.
 1  Dear friend, pay close attention to this, my wisdom; listen very closely to the way I see it. 
2  Then you'll acquire a taste for good sense; what I tell you will keep you out of trouble.
3  The lips of a seductive woman are oh so sweet, her soft words are oh so smooth. 
4  But it won't be long before she's gravel in your mouth, a pain in your gut, a wound in your heart.
5  She's dancing down the primrose path to Death; she's headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.
6  She hasn't a clue about Real Life, about who she is or where she's going. 
7  So, my friend, listen closely; don't treat my words casually. 
8  Keep your distance from such a woman; absolutely stay out of her neighborhood. 
9  You don't want to squander your wonderful life, to waste your precious life among the hardhearted. 
10  Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you? Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you? 
11  You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones, 
12  Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life? 
13  Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously? 
14  My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!" 
15  Do you know the saying, "Drink from your own rain barrel, draw water from your own spring-fed well"? 
16  It's true. Otherwise, you may one day come home and find your barrel empty and your well polluted. 
17  Your spring water is for you and you only, not to be passed around among strangers. 
 18  Bless your fresh-flowing fountain! Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! 
19  Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose— don't ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted! 
20  Why would you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a whore? for dalliance with a promiscuous stranger? 
 21  Mark well that God doesn't miss a move you make; he's aware of every step you take. 
22  The shadow of your sin will overtake you; you'll find yourself stumbling all over yourself in the dark. 
 23  Death is the reward of an undisciplined life; your foolish decisions trap you in a dead end. 
EXAMINATION 
What temptations do you battle? Ask the Lord to help you honestly examine your heart and identify what they are and why you are drawn to do these things that are not right or good for you. Using the wisdom in Proverbs 5 about overcoming temptation, how will you take steps to strengthen your resistance when facing it?

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