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SEX AND DISCRETION (1 OF 2)
by Marion Clark
Scripture: Proverbs 5:1-23
This content is part of a series.
Sex and Discretion (1 of 2)
Series: Proverbs
D. Marion Clark
Proverbs 5:1-23
Introduction
1 Timothy 6:10 states that ''the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.'' Our passage teaches us that the love of sexual pleasure is the root of all kinds of folly. Foolish men love money and commit evil to get it. Sex makes wise men foolish so that evil may be committed against them.
Text
My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
These opening verses reiterate the premise of the whole book of Proverbs - the high value of wisdom. It is something to be attentive to, to incline our ears towards. It is something to keep and to guard. Proverbs is written to teach wisdom. In the chapters leading up to this one, Solomon portrays wisdom as a woman calling out to the public to listen to her. And she is of great delight. Indeed, as 3:18 says, ''She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.''
And so, we are to actively pursue wisdom. To incline one's ear to is to stretch out or reach out. We are not to be passive receivers, but actively going out to obtain understanding. And then once we have it, we are to keep it. Wisdom gives discretion - the skill of making right decisions. And then we are to think and speak with wisdom, articulating it well and passing it on.
Why is wisdom so critical? Because there is a lot of bad out there which is trying to suck us in to being bad. Solomon's first example of this is in chapter one where he warns the young man of getting caught with the wrong friends who are motivated by the love of money. Their love of money leads them to violence, which in the end will catch up to them. He will later in chapter two give the next illustration and warn of the forbidden woman who is brought up again in our passage. Let's look at his description of her.
3 For the lips of a forbid ...
Series: Proverbs
D. Marion Clark
Proverbs 5:1-23
Introduction
1 Timothy 6:10 states that ''the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.'' Our passage teaches us that the love of sexual pleasure is the root of all kinds of folly. Foolish men love money and commit evil to get it. Sex makes wise men foolish so that evil may be committed against them.
Text
My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
These opening verses reiterate the premise of the whole book of Proverbs - the high value of wisdom. It is something to be attentive to, to incline our ears towards. It is something to keep and to guard. Proverbs is written to teach wisdom. In the chapters leading up to this one, Solomon portrays wisdom as a woman calling out to the public to listen to her. And she is of great delight. Indeed, as 3:18 says, ''She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.''
And so, we are to actively pursue wisdom. To incline one's ear to is to stretch out or reach out. We are not to be passive receivers, but actively going out to obtain understanding. And then once we have it, we are to keep it. Wisdom gives discretion - the skill of making right decisions. And then we are to think and speak with wisdom, articulating it well and passing it on.
Why is wisdom so critical? Because there is a lot of bad out there which is trying to suck us in to being bad. Solomon's first example of this is in chapter one where he warns the young man of getting caught with the wrong friends who are motivated by the love of money. Their love of money leads them to violence, which in the end will catch up to them. He will later in chapter two give the next illustration and warn of the forbidden woman who is brought up again in our passage. Let's look at his description of her.
3 For the lips of a forbid ...
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