Can a man walk
on hot coals without his feet being scorched? (Proverbs 6:28).
One of the recurring
themes of Proverbs is the subject of consequences… the way things can come back
to haunt us when we’re not looking. In fact, the writers warn that if we
indulge in certain behaviors, we should expect them to backfire on us. As we’ve already
addressed, biblical scholars call it retribution theology. Do right and be blessed; do wrong and be
cursed (if that sounds like Deuteronomy, that’s because Deuteronomy is where it
got its start). This will come up repeatedly in our study of Proverbs because
Proverbs is built on the foundation of retribution theology. In this particular
proverb, the lesson is about giving in to lust, but it also applies to every
situation where the consequences can get the better of us.
And while we’ve
learned that being an honorable person is no guarantee that trouble won’t find
us (bad things do happen to good people), if we behave in certain behaviors, aren’t we
just asking for it?
If I dig a pit,
doesn’t it serve me right if I fall in? If I tease a barking dog, should it
come as any surprise when I get bitten? If I walk on hot coals, shouldn’t I
expect to get burned?
And if I open the
door to sexual temptation, why would I play the victim card when I get caught? A man who
commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself (v. 32).
TODAY’S MEDITATION
Are you playing with fire
in any part of your life?
No comments:
Post a Comment