Preface: before you read this blog I strongly encourage you to read both proverbs 7, and proverbs 31:10-31 to get a proper background of the scripture.
Oh the infamous proverbs 31 woman…
How many times have we heard sermons preached about her, and thought to ourselves as women "yes that is me" or "LORD make me like her". We title women's conferences after her, write books about her, and aspire to be just like her. Her characteristics are those that we as believers hold dear to our hearts. But I wonder how many of us actually understand her…
This month GOD once again checked my heart by having me face myself and actually ask "Am I a woman of moral character"? And to be honest what I found was surprising. Along with the Proverbs 31 woman is someone we rarely address, and that's the immoral woman mentioned throughout the Word, and specifically in Proverbs 7.
Let me set the scene for you…
Proverbs 7 is written from the perspective of a man who is warning his young son to obey his instructions and guard himself from an affair with an immoral woman.
2 obey my command and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
This man goes on to talk about his witnessing of a young naive man, and his encounter with this immoral woman. The NLT version describes him as lacking common sense. The young naive man is walking down the street at dusk, when he is approached by the woman.
10 She approaches him, and is seductively dressed and sly of heart.
The MacArthur bible commentary says this means she had a crafty heart, knowing her goal but hiding her true intentions. She goes on to talk about making her peace offerings. This would make her appear religious by obeying the Law set in place at that time to finish the meat of Peace offerings, but her motives are to lure him. If you as a woman have ever used a religious excuse to get close to a guy, this reference should hit home. Heart check.
And so she invites him to drink their fill of Love until morning, and assures him that her husband won't be home because he is away on a long trip. The convent between a man and wife is sacred, but she steps out of that covenant. As believers, even if you are unmarried you are in covenant with the LORD as His Bride. How many times have we stepped outside of that covenant? Heart Check.
But what the passage says next shocked me.
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech, and enticed him with her flattery.
Woah, what?
22 And he followed her at once, like a ox going to the slaughter. Like a stag caught in a trap, 23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce his heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.
After hearing this my mind began to turn. See I have honestly thought that because I didn't put on a short dress and physically seduce a guy I was exempt. But it says that her pretty speech and flattery is what drew him.
How many times have we done that? Allowed our words as women to draw a guy in. Be it though flattery, or playing up his ego. Or maybe you talked about the things he liked, and put your self in his path, claiming it to be the right place at the right time.
And where did it lead you?
See I have to be woman enough to apologize for this. I am very good with my words, and I have used that to my advantage. I have made countless guys fall for me only to discover that I didn't like them like that. Only to walk away, or convince them that they are crazy for believing there would ever be anything between us or to break it off when I got ready. Putting them in the position as my brothers in Christ to fall because of the things I said.
Man I'm sick about it. And if you are reading this and you are one of those guys I am sorry.
And also where did it lead him?
Like an ox to the slaughter, cost him his life. JESUS.
I believe this speaks to the magnitude of danger in lust, seduction, impure motives and sexual immorality. The words of the immoral woman lead the young man to a dangerous place, one that probably put him in a cycle of lust, and caused him to fall.
Her words had that much power. Her motives were impure. She saw what she wanted and went after it.
So to my ladies. We have got to sincerely watch the motives of our hearts when interacting with men. We complain when they struggle with lust, but how many of us are a part of this? How many times have we said or done things to lure that ex-boyfriend back to us for our comfort? That's not at all Christ like, and know that the immoral woman is the exact opposite if the proverbs 31 woman we all aspire to be like. Biblically meek and mild women are far more attractive. The LORD has spoken to me about setting a guard over my lips, and holding my secrets dear to me. I have given away too many things that didn't belong to myself or the guys I gave them to. Every kiss, inappropriate hug, and deep secret rightfully belongs to my Husband and Christ, and I do damage every time I decide to step outside of those covenants and dish out my womanhood like its not sacred.
Ladies Don't you know you are precious? Above value! Everything about you is to be treasured first by your Heavenly Father, and then to the man he gifts you to. And if you are a believer you are already married, a bride to Christ Himself, so those things are especially sacred to Him.
So in short respect yourself. And respect the man who is to be your husband by valuing yourself and saving it all for him. And respect your brothers in Christ by not adding to their struggles, and keeping your interactions with them pure and Christ like. If we are honest with ourselves I am sure we have all fallen short in this area at some point, I know I have.
And to my brothers. Do not be drawn away by your youthful lusts. Watch out for the crafty words of women. And if you see one fall short protect her as your sister in Christ by not responding to her pleas for attention. Save the love for your wife, and JESUS it rightfully belongs to them…
To be continued…
