He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
The Seduction Of Wickedness: It’s Deception: No
Consequences: Prov 7:19-20
19) For the goodman [is] not
at home, he is gone a long journey:
20) He hath taken a bag of money with him, [and] will come home at the day appointed.
INTRODUCTION:
“There are no lasting
consequences to your actions”… this is one of the greatest deceptions that a
Christian faces during times of temptation.
The last thing that Satan wants a Christian to consider is the long term
effects of their sinful actions. Turning
the Christian’s attention from the results of their sin is revealed to us in
the following set of proverbs…
EXPOSITION:
19) For the goodman [is] not
at home, he is gone a long journey: 20) He hath taken a bag of money with him, [and] will come home at the day
appointed.
The
seductress now explains to this young man that he has nothing to fear. She
explains that he will not be caught in the act, because her husband is not home
and he will not return quickly, because he is a long distance away. By implication, she is saying “No one will
know but us”. By doing this, she is
assuring him of facing no retribution if he submits to her desires.
She
goes further and says that she has proof that he will not return quickly for
two reasons. First, of all he has taken
money with him (proving that he planned on a long period of absence) also, he
has told her of his plans (in which he said when he would return home at a much
later date.)
How
wrong is this way of thinking! The Lord
has made it plain that there are results to EVERY sin that is committed…
“Can a man take fire in his
bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his
neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” (Proverbs 6:27-29)
“Even as I have seen, they
that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.” (Job 4:8)
“Let him that is taught in
the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is
not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his
flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit
shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:6-9)
In
a very interesting way, the Lord does away with her reasoning that if the “goodman
of the house” is gone there will be no future retribution….
In
the following parable, he reminds us that… THE GOODMAN EVENTUALLY RETURNS AND
THOSE WHO DO HIM WRONG WILL FACE PUNISHMENT; IT MAY BE DELAYED BUT, IT WILL
CERTAINLY TAKE PLACE.…
“But know this, that if the
goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would
have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also
ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and
wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them
meat in due season? Blessed [is] that servant,
whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you,
That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth
his coming; And shall begin to smite [his]
fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant
shall come in a day when he looketh not for [him], and in an hour that he is
not aware of, And shall cut him asunder,
and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:43-51)
Although
this is spoken by Christ hundreds of years later, and the subject matter of
this parable is different from that of the proverb (parable – 2nd
coming of Christ; proverb – temptation’s deception); this very important
principle can be applied in both texts.
SUMMARY:
Although
temptation to sin is normally accompanied by assurances of no lasting harm to
be received, we know based upon God’s Word, that there are results to every sin
that is committed. These results can be
physical or spiritual, received while yet on earth or felt throughout eternity. In any case, these results bring far greater
harm than the short lived pleasure that may come with the commission of sin.
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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