Proverbs 7 - The Enticement

Another story! Or is it? Many times when I read these stories in Proverbs about the Harlot, the adulteress, I see our lives in the "world". The "world" is a gigantic black hole, enticing us with all kinds of empty promises. There are promises of riches, promises of fame, success, reward and all the amenities that go with them. Nice houses, nice cars, pretty women, boats, vacations to exotic places, etc. It is not wrong to "like" some of these things or to have a decent living but many have gone overboard. This cannot be our priority, nor can we let it interfere with our relationship with God. That is a huge downward spiral. Christ is our Bridegroom and the "world" is the adulteress. It is not only fame and fortune that take us away from our true relationship. It is also responsibility, our jobs, our activities, and sometimes our religion. Many of us settle for something less because we don't have the courage or confidence to step out in faith and be who we are truly called to be. Do you need to step out in faith? I know I do. What would you do/be if you could do/be anything in the world? Don't ask "how". "How" cuts the legs right out from under the "what". Our responsibility is to determine the "what" and let God worry about the "how". We need to ask ourselves "what makes me come alive" and go out and do that thing. I know I have spent most of my life being what everyone else expected or wanted me to be. So much to the point that I don't know who I am anymore. "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul". Remember: You don't have to die to lose your soul.

7:16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. 17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.”

I am convinced at the duplicity of this scripture. This is how the "world" entices us. It makes its bed beautiful and its promises sweet. It will be okay, the Master is away and won't be back for a long time.

7:22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, 23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life.

But the truth is that the end result is death. Spiritual, emotional, relational, and yes physical death. In this illustration an arrow has pierced the liver. A fatal wound. How many of us suffer wounds fatal to our spirit, our soul, our lives, by the lives we lead. The Master does not have to return for you to lose your soul, but you can be assured that no one knows when He will return, but you can be assured if you are caught with the harlot when He does, you will lose for sure