“Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. 31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house. 32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroy himself. 33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away. 34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance 35He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

Proverbs 6:30-25

In a day and age of situational ethics, we should be reminded that there are consequences to our sinful actions. The end of Proverbs 6 reinforces this very concept. Solomon contrasts here the sin of adultery and stealing. The sin of adultery is one of personal choice and satisfaction, where if the sin of stealing is because of hunger, who knows the lengths that a man will go to to feed himself or family! Yet, there is no admonition to dismiss the actions of the thief but rather he must as all, make restitution for his crime even to the selling of all he must pay the debt! This crime did not involve the killing of anyone, so the greatest of penalty may be the selling of all his goods to satisfy the judgement. Laws are given in order that society might function, and its members live in peace and security. While in the above example we might reason that his actions of stealing to satisfy his hunger were understandable, so must we understand and accept that the behavior cannot be tolerated! Solomon now moves to a more heinous crime, adultery! 

In our modern times of sin acceptance, we rarely hear the term adultery used! So common has the practice become that it is glorified in television shows and movies attempting to remove the shame of the sin and sting of conviction that accompanies it. Job wrote,

““For adultery is a heinous and lustful crime; Moreover, it would be a sin punishable by the judges. 12“For it is a fire which consumes to Abaddon (destruction, ruin, final torment); And [illicit passion] would burn and rage and uproot all my [life’s] increase [destroying everything]”

Job 31:11-12 AMP

WOW! Strong words about the reality of the sin! Many a family and children have suffered at the altar of a man’s self-indulgence inability to control himself. The Proverbs reminds us the a husbands fury may fall upon one who usurps his marriage bed! Again Job writes,

““I have made a covenant (agreement) with my eyes; How then could I gaze [lustfully] at a virgin? 2“For what is the portion I would have from God above, And what heritage from the Almighty on high?”

Job 31:1-2 AMP

Today, the world system is trying to sooth its conscience and nagging conviction of their foray into sexual sin. I am reminded of the verses n the book of Romans that describes this practice clearly,

“32Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.”

Romans 1:32 AMP

The Apostle Peter gives us good advice for these days,

“For the time already past is [more than] enough for doing what the [unsaved] Gentiles like to do–[b]living [unrestrained as you have done] in a course of [shameless] sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and wanton idolatries. 4In [connection with] all this, they [the unbelievers] are resentful and surprised that you do not [think like them, value their values and] run [hand in hand] with them into the same excesses of dissipation and immoral freedom, and they criticize and abuse and ridicule you and make fun of your values.”

1 Peter 1:3-4 AMP

Let me encourage you to stand strong in the Lord and after everything else…STAND!

Have a blessed day, Pastor Ken