W.W.I. #375

W.W.I. #375

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There are many nuggets of Wisdom, Warnings, and Instructions in the book of Proverbs, and if you’re not paying attention, then you may miss them. One morning, I was reading Proverbs chapter 7 titled “Warnings Against the Adulteress " and thought, "Is this more than just a sexual warning?” God laid it on my heart that adultery doesn’t always mean infidelity or sexual immorality with another person. It didn’t make sense to me at first, but maybe God is using the example of adultery to lead us into something deeper.

Solomon used words such as adulteress, adultery, forbidden woman, and woman folly twenty times in Proverbs. The examples of adultery consist of the simple man lacking sense who was tempted to veer off the path that he was walking and into the arms of the adulteress, forbidden woman, or prostitute. Ironically, the stories never ended with “They lived happily ever after.” Solomon warns us about straying from the one relationship that matters most.

Adultery could mean being distracted, lured, or being tempted by something that appears sweet at first but harms you in the end. Lord knows, I’m not perfect, so I’m not trying to browbeat you for your mistakes, guilt you into being perfect, or lecture you for what you should do. I’m just trying to help you listen to and heed God’s warnings when He gives them to you. It’s easy to read Proverbs and feel guilty or see only the negatives, but God is not chastising you; he is warning you by presenting both sides. That’s called free will.

Simply said, I want you to be faithful to God all the time, not just when it’s convenient. All I’m asking is for you to be wise and leave the simple man behind, because you’re a new creation now; don’t go back. You’re meant for more than a couch covered with flowers and colored linens. You’re created to walk the path that ends in victory, full of blessings, not pain and darkness.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, and if I had only followed the instructions or listened to the warnings, I would have made fewer. So I want to encourage you and help you combat future regrets by giving you a trigger word. I understand that most of the time, triggers are things that set off a negative emotion or behavior. But not this time.

The next time you feel in your spirit that something’s not right, and before you take action, or say something you’ll regret later, or visit a website you shouldn’t, just say the word adultery. That’s your trigger. Or ask yourself, “Am I committing adultery to the example I set, to the God I serve, to the family I love, or even to myself by doing this?” If the answer is no, proceed; if you have to think about it, you should probably stay away from it.

In conclusion, watch for the warnings, listen to the Father’s instructions, and receive His wisdom so you can live the legacy you’re meant to live, and generations will follow it.

Visit lighthouselegacies.com for help in living a generational legacy. Also, check out the Living Your Legacy Podcast.