Bible Passage: Proverbs 7

The wise sayings of this chapter have these following points:

Keep God’s commandments
Be wise to keep away from immoral women
The immoral women seeks men, even powerful men to ensnare them
Immorality leads to death

Immorality is one of the forms of temptations that can lead believers to fall from Grace. The Bible states the other forms of temptations.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor 6:9-10)

Immorality (fornicators, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites)
Idolaters
Thieves
Covetous
Drunkards
Revilers
Extortioners

Have we fallen into one of these temptations? I know a lot of people in my office who have fallen to these temptations. However, whether they are Christians or unbelievers, to them it is acceptable.

The society has accepted all these temptations as perfectly normal. Just look at the western societies where homosexuality is not a social stigma and that it is even possible to have gay weddings in churches. Even conservative Singapore is experiencing a big rise in the LGBT community and recently there was a big protest (in the forums) about the National Library exclusion of LGBT books.

How about idolators? Sure there are many in Singapore who worship money and god of fortunes. There are many who are covetous for expensive cars, condo and a high life. Singapore is very focus on the materialistic aspect of life and to most Singaporeans, success means being affluent and owning flamboyant toys; just look at the number of ultra expensive European cars on the road… Drunkards, lots of them. Some claim that the recent riots at Little India were due to drunkards. Revilers, just look at online political forums and one will see how much hatred and revilers are there in Singapore.

With all these temptations around us, are we able to keep from them? The Bible further says that the devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Just like the seductress femme fatale searches for her next male prey, the devil constantly searches for loopholes in our spiritual defense against him. It is very possible that we can fall into anyone of these temptations.

Therefore, to guard against these, we have to stand firm on what is right according to God’s law. We have to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and have a heart that seek the spiritual and not the physical enjoyment this world provides. We have to fear Him and respect His Laws. The question we can ask ourselves is that would we rather enjoy the fleeting pleasures of this world or to enjoy eternal peace and happiness in the kingdom of heaven? It is easier said than done.

As a closing verse,

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

May our righteous God put in us this righteous heart and the fear of Him at all times.