NAME THAT REFERENCE TIME: I give you a portion of a verse and you try to find it. No Concordance or Topical Bible or Study Bible allowed. Okay…that makes it too hard. You can have help looking it up.
“he does not know that it will cost him his life.”
I know some of you will cheat (okay take advantage of some reference work not mentioned above), but if you will hang in there with me I will give you the reference at the end. I really want to focus on this little part of the verse. Actually, it makes a whole lot more sense if I give you some of the contextual verses: “With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.”
Now does it make more sense? I also have pretty much given away at least the book it is from. The context is speaking of a young man seduced by a wayward wife (big clue). Whether he was sure of himself and his ability to withstand the temptation or not, we are not told. We are simply told that he wanders off the path he should be on. Like a deer in the headlights, he is snared.
Sadly, there are many of us who think we can handle anything that comes our way. We even use the word “never,” as in, “I would never do that.” Aaaaah yeah. The only words that follow that statement are by onlookers who yell “Timber! Look out below!” because there will be a crash. Sin has a track record of self-deception. “I can handle this on my own.” “That is not my area of weakness, so I am safe.” The bravado goes on and on, until WHAM! The next words out of our mouth become, “How did I get into this predicament?” or something similar. That little phrase from that passage of Scripture sticks out HUGE in this case.
THERE. IS. ALWAYS. A. CONSEQUENCE. TO. SIN……ALWAYS.
I say that a lot. Maybe it is because I have such practice. 🙂 Or is it 🙁 ? I have too many instances of the false bravado that led to the wrong preparation for fighting sin and its ugly pull. THANK GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND FORGIVENESS!! Otherwise, I would be a permanent casualty.
What do you think? Have you ever used the “never” word only to have it come back to haunt you? Did you find the reference? Look in Proverbs 7:21-23.
I did not know the verse, but it is a good one.
I have one notable example where I was so sure of myself in one area that I remember telling a friend, “I hope that I am tested so that I can see how far I have come.” Boom! I shortly went down in flames and it cost me dearly. O.K., so here is a “never” I can throw out there. I hope that I am never that stupid again.
I did that once also Daniel…once. Never again will I boast like that. That is a good “never.” Thanks.
I knew it was in Proverbs, but couldn’t place exactly where. And never often bites me.
Join the club.
I was not able to find it:)
Yes, I have used the words I would “never” ______ but then kick myself later for doing it. Glad to have God’s grace and mercy in my life for when I screw up.
I used the ESV which many are still not familiar with. 🙂 I am also grateful for God’s grace and mercy.
Tricky tricky:)
Hi Bill,
My ‘never’ was my former husband and I ending our marriage in divorce in 2007. This experience in my own life surely gave me a better understanding of the ‘why’ and ‘how’ divorce happens.
In my mind the best way to handle temptation of this kind in Prov 7 is to run as fast as possible in the other direction. As believers we have to recognize danger and avoid it.
What do we do if we have sinned in this way? Fall upon God’s mercy and grace…hoping…willing to accept whatever God chooses for us. There is a cost for sin. We just hope it is not an eternal cost.
I think the church has a responsibility to teach believers the dangers of sin. We often pay a price here on earth for our sins, and we may pay a dear price in eternity as well.
That is a tough “never” to have to deal with Linda. You are right about handling this temptation. Running the opposite direction is the way to go.
I knew it was Proverbs but chapter/verse eluded me.
I am sad to say that I have been knocked in the head by my “I will never________” too many times – I am thankful for grace and mercy!
Been there also Jim. Also thankful.
Thank God for His forgiveness, indeed. I agree that none of us are above temptations, and even the “purest” among us need to set up safeguards for temptation.
oh man Stephen you speak truth here. We all need safeguards for sure. Thanks.
I try never to use the word “never” but it never seems to work…why is that?
Hmmmmmm, I may have hit on something…;-)
I’ll never tell. 🙂
I’ve used the words never so much and failed I’ve almost abandoned it from my vocabulary, that is unless you count the phrase, “Never say never”…
Guarding our hearts is a matter of choosing to not be in the wrong place at any time.
I did know the book the verse was from, I quote often the young fool who goes down to the corner thinking he has the strength within him to avoid the weakness of the flesh.
That is the exact passage Floyd. Good for you knowing it. That means you have spent some meaningful time in Proverbs. Even better is learning to guard our hearts. Great comment.
figured it was from proverbs…maybe even ecclesiates…
anyway…
I NEVER thought that i would do this particular thing…and i did…not cool…and i’m still struggling to stop…
But his grace graps a hold of me everytime…and snaps me in two…
then puts me back together…
I have a NEVER also Arny. i am so thankful for grace.
I promised I knew that without looking. But only because you mentioned it on the comments at Discipulus. 🙂
I have said never before and I am trying to never utter it again. It sucks when you have to eat your words. They taste… nasty!
But grace? I like it. It tastes so much better.
Disciplus? What’s that? 😉 Eating words is nasty. Thanks for the humor Moe.
“I will never hit my head against the garage door ever again!”
BANG!
I was so prideful at the beginning of my Christian walk, I actually succeeded in making even more mistakes based on pride than I did before I became a Christian.
I think in some way you express a real truth Ed about how we are at the beginning of our walk. Hopefully as we get closer to Jesus pride takes a back seat.
My loving hubby knew where the verse came from…I was reading your blog out loud to him last night. 🙂 I learned long ago to NOT use that N word…..never. Everytime I would say it, BAM! God would place me in the situation or whatever it was I’d said never to, right there! For example, “I will never work at the High School.” BAM, there I am. “I will never work with Jr. Highers” Oh yeah, BIG BAM on that one! In our ladies study, we have learned to repeat, “His grace is sufficient for me” when we find ourselves in a difficult place we NEVER want to be…yep, there it is, I said it. 🙂 Great post Bill.
Of course your hubby is smart. He chose you didn’t he? 🙂 Good exercise your ladies study suggests. Thanks jan.
I try not to use always and never…but it seems there is always consequences when I wander off the path!