Proverbs 5:20-23 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Our sin is the cause; death is the consequence. You might say that you got away with it; however, something died. You are killing your health, your relationships, your family, your career, your reputation, God’s Name, etc. If you continue in the sin, God will make the consequences more severe.

In the above verses Solomon has especially been warning men to stay away from sexual sins. But for our lesson let this strange woman be a metaphor for your addiction or besetting sin. God wants us to think about it. We must consider in what direction we are travelling. Proverbs 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Deuteronomy 32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

Proverbs 5:6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

We must beware lest sin’s distractions and lusts keep us from thinking straight. It is so easy for us to figure out how to hide our sin. We figure out a way to get away with it. We can be so creative to do wrong. If we do worry about the consequences, we try to figure out how they can be mitigated.

Jeremiah 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Are you walking in the Spirit or the flesh? God is pondering the path of your feet.

·      Your attitude?

·      How are your actions affecting His Name?

·      Are you in need of God’s discipline?

·      How harsh the discipline should be?

·      How to keep you on the right path?

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Ron Cox – Director of HOPE Ministry