Playing with Fire

I remember childhood friends who could put out a lit match by pinching the flame with their thumb and forefinger. It looked rather daring to those of us who had never tried it and did not know the ‘trick.’

Everything was fun and games until one of my buddies accidentally pinched the head off a lit match and burned a blister on his thumb.

If you 'play with fire, sooner or later you are bound to get burned.'

'Playing with fire' is an expression that describes taking an unwarranted risk in a dangerous or questionable situation. A person who ‘plays with fire’ intentionally places himself in danger, usually with a sense of confidence. Due to inexperience in life, young people often ‘play with fire.’

Solomon wrote:
   Keep your way far from her,
   And do not go near the door of her house.
   --Proverbs 5:8

He was warning his son to stay far away from the house of the adulteress. It should be applied today as a general warning against sexual immorality.

We might have expected, “keep your feet” or “keep your eyes” or “keep your heart” far from her. Yet, Solomon said, “keep your way” far from her. The simple point is that YOU are the one who ultimately chooses your way. So, you should make your choice so that your path in life does not come near the house of the adulteress.

Applied to our day: Make your choice so that your path in life does not come near pornography, improper physical contact of your girlfriend, talking and joking about improper sexual behavior.

The closer a person gets to sexual impurity and the more they allow themselves to be teased by the imagined possibilities, then the more dangerous the circumstances. They invite temptation, paving the way to 'the door of her house.' How then will they keep from falling to the temptation.

Consider the next few verses from the same chapter to better understand the very real consequences of ‘playinng with the fire’ of sexual impurity.


   Lest you give your vigor to others, 
      And your years to the cruel one;
   Lest strangers be filled with your strength, 
      And your hard-earned goods go to the house of an alien;
   And you groan at your latter end, 
      When your flesh and your body are consumed;
   And you say, "How I have hated instruction! 
      And my heart spurned reproof!
   And I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, 
      Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
   --Proverbs 5:9-13


Sexual impurity robs you of your strength, your wealth, and the best years of your life by giving yourself to someone who does not care about you...all in exchange for a mere moment of pleasure.

Young men...choose now to keep you way pure.

“It’ll Be Alright...”

Solomon told a story that unfolded before him as he watched from the window of his house. He described a young man who was naïve and who lacked sense. (Read the entire chapter of Proverbs 7 for a complete picture.)

Of course, Solomon did not know the young man’s character by merely looking at him. He watched. He observed. The actions of the young man told his own story so that when Solomon wrote, he described the young fool accurately:

   And I saw among the naïve, 
   I discerned among the youths, 
   A young man lacking sense.
   --Proverbs 7:7

What was it about the young man that identified him?

Solomon was writing to his own son to warn him to stay away from the adulteress. She seduces with flattery, food, fun, and frivolity.

It is clear that the young man did not turn down the street of the adulteress to go directly to her house; she had to woo him, seduce him... and she did just that.

'Adulteress' is more of a technical term; seductress is more descriptive.

The story climaxes in verse 22: “Suddenly he followers her...” and he was destroyed.

How did he end up in such catastrophic circumstances so that his strength of will was ‘suddenly’ broken and he gave in to the adulteress?

You can imagine his cries ‘after’ the fact, after he had been seduced and his life ruined:
   "I never intended to..."
   "I didn’t know..."
   "She..."

However, Solomon warned his son, “Do not stray into her paths.” (v. 25) The simple truth is that he should have known; he did not have to stray.

We understand that...

• No one strays into financial success;
• No one strays into a successful career;
• No one strays into physical fitness.

Success and excellence require thinking, intention, watchfulness, and planning. We should not think that spiritual maturity is any different.

The young man that Solomon observed was described as naïve and lacking sense because he was spiritually thoughtless.

When we hear our kids (or kids, when you hear yourself) shrug off parental warnings with:
   "I don’t see anything wrong with it."
   "Oh mom, you worry too much."
   "You just don’t understand."
   "Oh dad, it'll be alright."

When we hear these kinds of unthinking responses in the context of questionable entertainment choices, questionable friends, or questionable activities, we should recognize spiritual immaturity. Yet, we must see it for what it really is: Moral thoughtlessness (i.e. naïve and lacking sense).

Along life's journey a person often encounters a 'Y' in the road. It is a time to pause...and think..."What will be the likely outcome?" Some paths are to be avoided.

As for the young man that Solomon observed, nothing really happened suddenly, except perhaps, that he came to his senses! But it was far too late for thinking at that point. The young man lacked sense when he first turned the corner without giving it even one moment’s thought . . . and he was not alright!

Your Gaze

I was about 12 years old, living in ‘small town’ America (population 364). I had gone with my dad to our garden spot a few miles out of town on a long dusty gravel road, literally out in the middle of nowhere.

On our way back home I courageously blurted out in my Arkansas twang, “Can I drive?”

Dad squeezed himself next to the driver’s side door and let me scoot across the wide bench seat in behind the steering wheel. Giving me a few brief instructions, we were off . . . s-l-o-w-l-y.
I was driving!

A moment later dad saw a bright red cardinal perched in a tree to the right of the road ahead. He pointed to the bird and I looked at it.

The next thing I knew dad jerked the steering wheel to the left to get us back on the road. Driving lesson over.

I had become a perfect example of what ‘not’ to do. Having no prior experience, I naturally steered the car in the exact direction I looked. I saw the bird in the tree and I unconsciously adjusted the steering wheel toward the bird, the object of my gaze.

   Let your eyes look directly ahead, 
   And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
   --Proverbs 4:25

This proverb sounds like it was written for the inexperienced driver, but Solomon  was warning about one’s gaze as it applies to life. Observing that we are all on a spiritual journey he encourages us to give careful attention to our path, not turning to the right or left. In this way the wise will avoid evil.

It is true in our physical lives and in our spiritual lives: We will walk along a path according to the gaze of our eyes.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
--Hebrews 12:1-2

Upon what is your gaze?

Paths

Think about a path through a wooded area...
Think about a path up a steep hillside...
Think about a path across a broad plain...

How did the paths become paths?
What exactly makes a path a path?


Proverbs 2 is about paths. In this short chapter there are eleven references to one's path/way/course in life. There is encouragement along with warnings. So, what is Solomon teaching about paths?

By casual observation we know that a path is a path because there is no grass or other growth. If the path is in a rocky area, the sharp edges of the rocks become worn over time. A path becomes a path because it is used over and over and over.

A path is something that is set in place; it is established. Even when a path falls into disuse, it takes a while for it to be restored to the growth patterns around it so that it disappears.

It may have started as a path of least resistance through a rough area. Once established, it certainly offers the least resistance.

Of the many things that Solomon writes about one’s path, one thing is certain. Paths are chosen. A path may have begun as a way of least resistance; even then was chosen whether by man or beast.

In life, some people wake up and find themselves on a path they do not like. Yet, it was chosen.

• Perhaps they acknowledge poor choices.
• Perhaps there were circumstances that that suggested or seemed to offer no other choice.
• Perhaps it was simply the path of least resistance.

Whatever the case, every person is going along a path in life, and that path IS the one chosen.

Are you on a jagged, crooked and difficult path in life?
Is the path you are on leading you to the destination you desire?

The Proverbs can assist you in choosing and walking the better path, one with a good and joyful destination.

You CAN choose a different path.
Choose wisely.
Choose LIFE.