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).