The lesson in adultery continues. First Solomon spoke about the effects of adultery on the individual. Now Solomon couples that idea with how it effects the relationships we have with the world around us. Adultery is not one of those sins that solely effects the adulterer and adulteress. The Lord will not allow either to be blessed in any facet.
"Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, an depart from the words of her mouth." Proverbs 5:7, Amplified
Even before we fall, we have the choice to walk away. "No temptation has overtaken you except such is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (I Corinthians 10:13, NKJV) Every temptation is lines with the opportunity of escape. The biggest things that am man can do is walk away. Depart from the words of her mouth.
"Let your way in life be far from her; and come not near the door of her house - avoid the very scenes of temptation..." Proverbs 5:8, Amplified
One specific action that we can take in dealing with temptation is to stay as far away from it as possible. If drugs are a weakness then stay away from those friends who use them, stay away from the parts of town that you used to score. If alcohol is an issue, then do not go into the liquor store. If pornography is the problem then stay away from those liquor stores that you know sell magazines; and even more subtly, stay away from those movies that contain nudity. It has been said that if you hang around a barber shop long enough you will eventually get a hair cut. This is the truest saying that I have heard in a long time. "Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (I Thessalonians 5:19-22, NKJV)
"Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to those without mercy; lest strangers [and false teachings] take their fill of your strength and wealth, and your labors go tho the house of an alien [from God]; and you groan and mourn when your end comes, when your flesh and body are consumed, and you say, How I have hated instruction and discipline and my heart despised reproof!" Proverbs 5:9-12, Amplified
If we give ourselves to sin, we will reap the consequences. It seems as though that when one gives himself over to adultery, however, that the danger is more imminent. Your honor, or grandeur, will be given over to others who have not worked for it as long and as hard. Think of it like working from the ground up at a company. You have worked hard through many different promotions and gotten to the place you are now simply because of sweat and tears. If you were to commit adultery and got fired, another would be set in you place, one who has not worked as hard as you. You honor will be given to one who is not deserving of it, but somethings has to be done. All your years of hard work are going to be taken away from you with one bad decision. Strangers, or those not familiar with your God, will benefit more from your life than you ever did.
But there will come a day when you will come to realize the errors of your way. That day will be too late. Hindsight is always 20/20. Clearer vision comes with time and experience, however, wouldn't you like to be on this side of blessing.
"I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor submitted and consented to those who instructed me. [The extent and boldness of] my sin involved almost all evil in the estimation of the congregation and the community." Proverbs 5:13-14, Amplified
As the sinner slips down and down the never ending spiral, realization comes to his mind. Again this realization comes too late, long after the sin is committed. Even those around the sinner can see his sin and understand his folly. It is never too late to stop however. The window of opportunity of escape is always open, always ready to receive. Life does not have to end like this.
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