Captivated by sin

It’s amazing how often we see adulterous relationships portrayed on TV nowadays.  Nobody even blinks at it.  And yet, one wonders why people never learn from it.

Even on TV, most times there are negative consequences that come from these relationships.  Broken relationships and hurt people at the least,  murder at the worst.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a show where the person said, “Oh you slept with my wife?  No problem.  Please continue with my blessing.”

That’s one of the points Solomon makes here.  He says,

Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?

So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.  (Proverbs 6:27-29)

He then expounds on this by pointing out that while a judge may be understanding towards a person who steals because he is starving, nevertheless he will pass judgment and the person will have to pay the price.

How much more will a person try to make another pay the price for sleeping with their wife or husband?  They will have no sympathy whatsoever for the person who does so.

Solomon adds,

Blows and disgrace are [the adulterer’s] lot, and his shame will never be wiped away; for jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.  (33-35)

So Solomon says, “Guard your heart.  Don’t go after the adulterous wife, nor the prostitute for that matter.”

For the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.  (26)

In other words, the prostitute will take all your money if she can, and once it’s all gone, so is she.

And if you play with an adulterous wife, you’ll likely pay the price one way or the other.  A destroyed marriage and family.  Or even a destroyed life through murder or AIDS or other STDs.

But from a broadened perspective, I think the same can be said of the results of sin in general.

Don’t be captivated by sin.  Don’t lust after it no matter how attractive it might seem, because you’ll only be scooping hot coals on yourself, and you will be burned in the end.

While sin may look attractive, it will take all we have, and utterly destroy us.

Rather, let our hearts be captivated by the One who loved us so much, that he took the punishment for our sins on the cross.

Let us seek him daily, and as our hearts become more captivated by him, we will find true love and true life.