A devotional based on Proverbs 5–7
As part of our walk through the Way of Wisdom, Pastors Justin Stringer and Daniel Maurer examined how scripture uses the analogy of adultery to paint our sin in stark contrast to God’s grace.
Spiritual adultery is giving to something else the love, trust, worship, and obedience that belongs to God.
For some of us, that might be that need to control our future.
For others, it might be the love of security that money brings us.
And there are those of us who elevate the love of our family to this level.
In the Bible, adultery is a picture of sin itself. Sin is turning away from the God who made us and loves us.
We leave the One who gives life. Then we chase lesser loves.
Sin Makes Promises It Cannot Keep
Proverbs 5 describes the forbidden woman. Her lips drip honey. Her speech is smoother than oil. But in the end, she is bitter as wormwood.
Her words sound sweet. Her end is poison.
This is how sin works.
Sin overpromises and underdelivers.
It says, “This will make you happy.”
It says, “This will make you feel important.”
It says, “This will give you rest.”
It says, “This will solve your problems.”
Then it leaves you empty.
Think about a mirage in the desert. It looks like water from a distance. But when you arrive, there is only hot sand.
Sin is a mirage. It looks like life. It leads to death.
Laziness promises joy through escape. Envy promises joy through having what belongs to someone else. Lust promises satisfaction. Pride promises strength. Money promises security. Approval promises worth.
None of these things can carry the weight of your soul. Only God can do that.
Sin Captures the Heart First
Proverbs 6 points out this critical aspect “Do not desire her beauty in your heart.” The warning begins inside – before we ever sin.
Sin captures the heart before it changes the behavior.
Our thought life matters. What we imagine, watch, and secretly desire matters.
The heart is like a steering wheel. If it is captured by a lesser love, your choices will follow.
A person may say, “I am only looking.”
Looking becomes longing.
Longing becomes planning.
Planning becomes acting.
In today’s society it can be hard to keep our eyes on Jesus. News, social media, video games, and work all compete for our time and love. They promise entertainment and then fill us with anxiety, distracted living and sinful decisions.
Sinmay begin with a phone beside the bed, a message to someone who is not your spouse, envy stirred by endless scrolling, or a small lie.
The first step may look small.
Few people plan to be destroyed. Yet they keep walking toward the edge. They keep playing with danger. They become so comfortable near that danger that they forget what danger can do.
Temptation is not a pet.
It is a predator.
Sin Destroys at Every Level
This is one of the insidious lies we tell ourselves – my sin is only hurting me. Proverbs compares sin to fire. Can you carry fire next to your chest and not burn your clothes? Can you walk on hot coals and not scorch your feet?
The answer is no.
Sin burns.
It destroys physically, socially, morally, and spiritually. Shame weighs on the body. Trust is damaged. Relationships suffer. After the first compromise, the next one often feels easier. God can seem far away, even when he has not moved.
Sin also destroys our worship.
That is the heart of spiritual adultery. We look to something else for what only God can give. We ask a relationship for worth, success for identity, entertainment for rest, and money for safety.
We place a created thing in the place of the Creator.
That is betrayal.
Stringer hit this from a few different angles; God hates Sin because it destroys us. And God loves us.
His hatred for sin is strengthened by his love for us.
David understood this after his sin. He said to God, “Against you, you only, have I sinned” (Psalm 51:4). David had sinned against people. He had caused real harm. Yet he saw the deepest offense. His sin was against God.
Every lie, lustful thought, bitter word, and proud judgment is committed against God.
We do not sin in general. We sin against a holy God.
The Way Home
This message is heavy. But it does not end in shame.
The good news is this: your sin is worse than you think, but Christ’s grace is greater than you think.
Jesus did not die to make decent people slightly better. He died to save sinners. He died for people who had wandered. He died for people who had betrayed God again and again.
Romans 5:8 says that God showed his love for us while we were still sinners. Christ died for us.
We do not have to hide. We can run to our Father.
A child who falls reaches for his father’s hand. When we sin, we do not run away from God. We run toward him.
We bring the sin into the light, confess it, ask for forgiveness, and receive the cleansing Jesus purchased through his blood.
The cross proves that God’s grace is not cheap. Our sin cost Jesus his life. But the cross also proves that God’s grace is strong. Jesus carried our shame into the grave. He walked out again, leaving sin’s power defeated.
Treasure God’s Word
Proverbs tells us to treasure God’s commands. Keep them as the apple of your eye. Bind them to your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Maurer described binding a shield to our hands and arms as if preparing for battle. How tightly would we tie that shield on? This is the passion with which we should tie God’s word onto every aspect of our life.
What we treasure will direct our actions. If God’s Word is precious, we will protect time with him, and let His commands shape our desires.
We do not overcome sin by simply hating sin more. We overcome sin by loving Jesus more.
So guard your heart. Guard your body. Guard your future.
Ask yourself: What lesser love is competing with God in my heart? What lie is that sin telling me? What desire is capturing me? What is this sin destroying?
Then bring your answers to Jesus.
He is not waiting to crush you. He is calling you home.
You have been fully known. You can be fully loved.
You have wandered from your spiritual home. But your Savior is still pursuing you.
Christ cleanses completely.
He forgives fully.
He welcomes you joyfully.
Your sin does not command your destiny.
Jesus does.
Prayer
“Lord Jesus, show me where I have given my heart to lesser loves. Turn my desires back toward you. Forgive my sin. Cleanse my heart. Help me treasure your Word. Thank you that your grace is greater than my sin. Bring me home. Amen.”
This devotional was provided by an attending member of Fellowship Bible Church. The views expressed are solely the writer’s own.
