He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Temptation: Avoid It’s Enticement With
Contentment: Prov 5:15-19
15) Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of
thine own well.
16) Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, [and] rivers of waters in the streets.
17) Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
18) Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy
youth.
19) [Let her be as] the loving
hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou
ravished always with her love.
INTRODUCTION:
In this section, he will
give proverbs that emphasize contentment as a means of gaining victory over the
many temptations this world has to offer.
Solomon uses pictures of thirst and the desire for physical intimate
relations to represent our unfulfilled desires…
EXPOSITION:
15) Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of
thine own well.
Many
times temptations appear when we have an unsatisfied desire in our lives. In this case, Solomon uses the picture of
thirst as a symbolic representation of any unfulfilled longing may be
experiencing. In doing so he relates to
us four basic principles concerning contentment and overcoming temptations:
#1 Anyone who has unfulfilled desires should look
to that which is lawfully theirs to fulfill that desire. They should not use sinful pursuits to fulfill
their cravings. He will supply our
needs and fulfill our desires.
“And they thirsted not [when]
he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock
for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out. [There is] no peace, saith
the LORD, unto the wicked.” (Isaiah 48:21-22)
16) Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, [and] rivers of waters in the streets.
#2 Once the Lord blesses by fulfilling the
desire, those who were in need should share the blessing with others. This should be done out of love and sacrifice
to those who are yet in need.
How
can we help others in need? By sharing of the material blessings the Lord has
given to us and sharing our experiences with them, showing the proper way to
find fulfillment for their longings. Many
times, the very blessing that the Lord gives to us to meet our need, is meant
to be shared with others to meet their need as well.
“Cast thy bread upon the
waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what
evil shall be upon the earth.” (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2)
17) Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
#3 When we seek to be a blessing to others, we
need to be sure we give to them what is ours to give.
There
is no justification for unlawfully taking from one man in order to give to
another. Our helping is to be an act of
self-sacrifice motivated by love, not an unlawful act bringing harm to others
through an exercise of our power or authority.
“He answereth and saith
unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he
that hath meat, let him do likewise.” (Luke 3:11)
18) Let thy fountain be blessed:
#4 By using the divine supplies we have been
given in the proper way (helping others), we will those supplies will be
blessed of God and multiplied.
As
we help others, we can never out give the Lord, nor will He fail to meet our
every need. Let’s never allow
selfishness to stop us from helping others. As Charles Stanley
has said many times…. “Be faithful to the Lord and leave all the consequences
to Him.”
“He hath dispersed, he hath
given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be
exalted with honour.” (Psalms 112:9)
“But, beloved, we are persuaded better things
of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. For God [is] not
unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward
his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every
one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the
end:” (Hebrews 6:9-11)
and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Solomon
now uses the picture of physical intimacy as a symbolic representation of any
unfulfilled desires we may be experiencing.
Just like using the blessing of a fountain of water in the proper way,
so too, we are to enjoy and treat our spouses properly as well. This includes finding intimate satisfaction
with them alone.
Again,
just as in the above verses, we will see he emphasizes the need to find joy and
fulfillment with that of which we can lawfully partake.
“Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest
all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun,
all the days of thy vanity: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in
thy labour which thou takest under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 9:9)
19) [Let her be as] the
loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be
thou ravished always with her love.
Finding
genuine, complete contentment in the blessings of God involves:
#1 Seeing His blessings as beautiful and
desirable. In other words, the need to
recognize the blessings and appreciate them, not taking them lightly.
#2 Using His blessings in the way they were
meant to be used. We are to seek His
will on how to use His blessings faithfully and act to fulfill that will.
#3 To become totally immersed in the
appreciation and enjoyment of His blessings.
In other words, be so consumed with the grace, love and kindness He has
shown to us, that we experiences complete contentment in His blessings, thereby
allowing no temptation to gain a foothold in our life.
“[Oh] how great [is] thy
goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; [which] thou hast
wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Thou shalt hide them in
the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly
in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed [be] the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in
a strong city.” (Psalms 31:19-21)
SUMMARY:
Whether
pictured by thirst or a desire for intimacy, when we find satisfaction and
contentment for our desires in the blessings of God, then we will allow very
little space for temptations to work in our lives. If we have no unfulfilled desires the ability
for temptation to work in our life is greatly limited.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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