The money pit

[Avoid the forbidden woman] “lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,”
-Proverbs 5:10

When I worked in the court system, I came across the case of a man who was arrested for violation of a protective order. He was divorced from his wife, and due to various circumstances (some his fault, and some beyond his control), a protective order was granted against him. He was no longer allowed to see his children. He was broke and could not pay child support, but he did find a little money to buy some cloths for his kids. He left them on the doorstep of his ex-wife’s house while no one was home and left.

And he was arrested for violating that order.

I don’t know the full story. Maybe something else happened to suggest that he would be a danger to the kids. I don’t even know what caused the divorce, but I spoke with him some, and I felt sorry for him. I believe that he was really just trying to do something nice for his kids, knowing that he probably wouldn’t be allowed to see them for years. What he told me was that he just wanted to remind them that he was thinking of them, and that he loved them.

So many of our problems in life can be traced back to one point in time, one decision. Usually, it’s our own doing as well. This verse speaks of the consequences of adultery. How much has been lost over that particular sin? How many families destroyed? Not many of them end up in such a terrible situation as the man I met at the courthouse, but how many are today trying to schedule weekends with their kids because of that one moment?

How many people are sending money to an ex every month because of adultery? How many are paying child support because of adultery?

It’s not just adultery that can ruin us either. Any sin has the power to do it. It doesn’t always happen (some sinners flourish), but sin has a way of bringing us to ruin. Pride will cause us to overextend our bank accounts. Selfishness will drive off those who love us. Sex outside of marriage has ruined many people’s lofty dreams when the reality of a pregnancy brings them down to earth. Lying can ruin the trust of your customers. Stealing can land you in jail, without much hope of getting a good job when you are released.

Solomon is telling his sons to stay moral for two reasons. In this section, he is reminding his sons that acting morally will keep you from these traps that will destroy your bank account, reputation, and health.

It doesn’t always happen like this, of course, but it does enough. I can tell you of many people who have been ruined over adultery. I can’t tell you about any who have been ruined by faithfulness.

The other reason Solomon gives to his sons for moral living in a spiritual one, mainly addressed in verse 5 of this chapter.

And this, to me, is the far more important one. After all, the Christian life could quite possibly lead you to prosperity and a healthy life. It could just as easily lead you to a martyr’s death in the Middle East. The Proverbs often give us truisms that are usually true, but not always. This is very important to remember when reading them – they are guides, but not always promises.

And yet, when we are in Christ, the end will always be the same, whether we are gunned down by Muslim extremists or die of old age surrounded by family – eternity with God.

It is not something we can earn of ourselves. God is holy and just, and we have fallen far short of his glory. Maybe it is with an adulterous woman. Maybe it is simple pride that is eating away at us. Whatever it is, we have been overcome with sin. But in the death of Jesus we can be forgiven. He took the punishment for us.

By all means, try to avoid sin. Try to live righteously. But when you fail, repent and believe in Him that you may live. Maybe it’s too late for you to avoid the forbidden woman. It’s not too late to deal with the next life.