scars that will not healWe pick up our devotional study of Proverbs 6 where we concluded last month—Proverbs 6:27-28.

Proverbs 6:27-28“Can a man take fire in his bosom [lap or the fold of his robe], and his clothes not be burned [set on fire]? 28 Can one go [walk] upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned [blistered]?”

Solomon’s uses a technique employed by great teachers—asking questions that demand not only an answer, but employs the reasoning of the student. The answer to the questions in verses 27-28 is obvious—one cannot carry fire in his clothes or walk on hot coals and not be burned! The application to our context is—a man or woman who engages in sexual immorality will “get burned” and come to ruin! Solomon stated the same in an earlier proverb:

Proverbs 5:11“And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh [strength; muscle] and thy body are consumed,”

The toll of sexual immorality and its dire consequences is evident throughout the fabric of our society. In addition to the proclivity of children growing up without a father [example – an estimated 72 percent of African-American children grow up without a father] is the epidemic of sexually transmitted diseases [STD’s]. Over 70 million are bearing the curse and ravages of sexually transmitted diseases in America.L0052320 A pair of feet with a label 'AIDS' arou

Immorality not only robs a man of his health, it also steals his joy.

Proverbs 6:29-31 “So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth [lie with her] her shall not be innocent [nor go unpunished]. 30 Men do not despise [have contempt for] a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul [body] when he is hungry [famished]; 31 But if he be found [found out], he shall restore [recompense] sevenfold [seven times what was stolen]; he shall give all the substance [wealth; riches] of his house.”

Men will forgive a man of stealing to satisfy his hunger and provide bread for his broken familyfamily [after all, bread and meat can be restored]; however, there is no means of restoration when a man has committed adultery with another man’s wife. The consequences of adultery are lasting and inescapable; like scars left on the body by fire, adultery robs a man of his integrity and forever scars his marriage and family.

Copyright 2014 – Travis D. Smith