Below is the daily Bible reading I am doing for the West Side Church of Christ. Please feel free to follow along.
Today’s reading (Proverbs 5) has two applications; the literal application as well as an implied application. We will deal with the literal application first.
In the basic reading of this passage anyone can see that it is clearly discussing adultery. While the writer is talking to men, its teachings can be applied to either gender. It calls us to stand clear of adultery. The writer encourages the man to “Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.” This is very noble advice. Be content with what you have. Your marriage should be one of constant learning of the other. This should be applied to both the sexual relationship as well as the mental relationship. The writer also compares adultery as something sweet in the beginning but quickly turning to vinegar.
The implied application is to any endeavor of sin. Listen to the writer’s words … “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.” That is exactly the pattern any act of sin takes.
We would have no desire to sin if at first sin did not seem pleasant. I cannot remember a time where I have sinned where it did not seem gratify to sin, whether it was saying something course to someone or doing something sneaky behind my parent’s backs (sorry mom). Now looking back, how did it turn out? This sin has probably left you with a hurt relationship, a bad feeling, or even regret. That is exactly what sin does.
So what are we to do? No matter if it is adultery we are facing or any other sin; I think the answer can be found in this reading as well. “You will say, “How I hate discipline!” I believe that is the answer … Discipline. If we are going to stand firm and not allow ourselves to be lead to temptation, it is going to take discipline ... personal discipline ... self induced discipline. So how strong is your own personal discipline? Are you drinking the water from you own well or cistern?
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