Fidelity & Stupidity

Read the Proverbs blog series from the beginning here.

Fidelity isn’t inherent to our natures; it has to be taught. Chapter five of Proverbs contains a father’s warning to his son to keep away from seductive women – not go anywhere near them.

Unfortunately in our “do what feels good” culture today, fathers no longer tell their sons to “drink water from your own cistern” (verse 15) – a euphemism for remaining faithful to one’s wife. Sons are exposed to pornography, witness condescending conversations, and handed condoms. The role of the man is degraded from “father” to “baby daddy.”

The middle of chapter five exhorts sons to remain faithful and take pleasure in the love and physical nature of his wife. In fact, verse 19 says “be lost in her love forever.”

Sins of adultery are often done in secret, but verse 21 reminds us that “a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes, and He considers all his paths.”

The chapter ends with a word I wasn’t allowed to say as a child – “stupid.” Verse 23 says “[The wicked man] will be lost because of his great stupidity.”

As I mentioned in My Understanding, I dislike being lost, especially when I drive. But how much worse it is to be spiritually, eternally lost. As we continue to walk through passages in Proverbs, let’s pray that God will increase our wisdom so that we will better understand our great need for Him.