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Sin Will Destroy You |
Dear Brethren,
Solomon asked the question, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27) Why is it that people think they can beat the odds? No one can sin with impunity - it will catch up with the sinner. God, in His love for us, has given us a set of instructions with no down side to them. His spiritual standards promote us, rather than pull us down. In this section of Proverbs, Solomon is warning his children about the results of illicit and adulterous relationships. Today we say that if you play with fire, you will get burned.
Our children are to be taught right examples
so that they can make God's way a fundamental part of their
lives. "My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake
not the law of thy mother." (Proverbs 6:20) God intends that
children have two good role models. We can learn two different ways:
the school of hard knocks - with terrible consequences, or we can learn by
hearing and believing right instruction. God says for us to choose the
latter. The Bible has examples that will lead us in God's way no
matter what choices life throws our way. "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is
light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." (Proverbs 6:23)
Solomon is teaching his children Godly
principles that will serve them well throughout their lives. Making the
truth of God a part of our children's lives when they are young will help to
stave off future wrong relationships. "When thou goest, it [God's
commandments] shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee;
and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee." (Proverbs 6:22) Our young people will need to be able to distinguish between
the right crowd and the wrong crowd - who
to associate with, and who will get them into bad trouble.
Today, in only one generation, God's
institution of marriage has become archaic and antiquated for three-fourths of
our population. This has occurred mainly because of the blatant
promiscuity since World War II. "He that goeth in to his neighbour's
wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. But whoso committeth
adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own
soul." (Proverbs 6:29; 6:32) Solomon warned his children,
and God warns us to avoid illicit relationships. If we fail to heed this
instruction, destruction and ruin will surely be the result.
In the same way that violations of the
seventh commandment are a major cause of divorce, they are also the root cause
of much violence and murder - often by a vengeful mate. In a way, you
might say that the injuries are self-inflicted because the sinner brought them
on himself. His reputation is ruined for the rest of his life. "A
wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped
away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare
in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither
will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts." (Proverbs 6:33-35) When a wronged mate is set on revenge, he cannot be bought
off.
The Proverbs were not written only for
Solomon's children. Yes, his children are being warned about the
dangers of adultery, but we, the people of God are being warned about an even
more serious threat - that of spiritual adultery. There are many seductive
and enticing lures for drawing Christians away from a right relationship with
God. When that covenant is breached, the destruction of the sin is
unreservedly devastating. Accept no substitutes for a pure covenant
relationship with our Maker. "He hath shewed thee, O man, what
is good; and what doth the Lord require of
thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy
God?" (Micah 6:8)
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Sermon: |
"Sin Will Destroy You"
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