The Deep Pit

For Thursday, June 21, 2007
Proverbs 22:14

The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

A kiss is not just a kiss when the purpose is to lure into sin, and a sin that leads into the pit of destruction. Words of invitation to pleasure are words of poison when that "pleasure" is forbidden passion. The folly of men is to believe that the sin is harmless, and that they have the discernment and willpower to avoid the pit. But if money is the root of evil, then understand that sex is the root of folly. Sex makes a man foolish. An otherwise cool-thinking man becomes stupid when his sexual passion is aroused. He actually believes that illicit sex will give him satisfaction. He is actually willing to risk his reputation, his career, and his family for the sake of momentary pleasure that vanishes immediately and which leaves him craving for more, never fulfilled.

What then is the second line of the proverb saying? Is God angry with men who fall into such a pit, or does he allow men with whom he is angry to fall into it? Sometimes our punishment is to be allowed to go where our passions lead us.

Men, don't be stupid. Know your weakness when it comes to sexual temptation. Know that you cannot think straight and walk away. The best way to deal with such temptation is not to brace yourself against the temptation, but to walk away from it. The best way to avoid falling into the pit is to get away from the edge of it.