공동체와 양육

Extreme Foot Surgery (PR 7:1-27)

2010.03.28Rev. Eddie Byun

Faithfulness to Christ is shown in how we walk with the Lord, and since our direction determines our destination, we must guard our steps. We do this by staying intimate with God through His Word, fleeing temptation rather than testing ourselves, and pursuing holiness so that we finish our race.

Stay intimate with God through His Word (vv. 1-5)

Proverbs 7 calls us to keep God's words and treasure His commandments, as a father speaks to his beloved son. The pupil of the eye must be protected because it gives light and guidance, and so God's Word must be the light and life within us. Binding the Word on our fingers and writing it on the tablet of our hearts means moving it from our heads to our hearts. The Pharisees knew Scripture well, yet head knowledge alone does not change a life. We should feast on the Word day and night, because our souls were made to be nourished by it. Like the verbal vows of marriage, we must also declare out loud our commitment to pursue wisdom.

Flee temptation rather than test how close you can come (vv. 6-12)

The young man in Proverbs 7 is gullible and lacks sense, and he wanders toward the adulteress's corner. The best way to fight temptation is to run from it, not to see how close we can get to the edge. Joseph ran away from Potiphar's wife, and the wise person cuts off what will lure them. Twilight is a dangerous time, so we must stay in the light, and when we stray, we must not rationalize but run back to the cross and repent. Marriage does not lessen temptation; it only increases the consequences of giving in.

Alone time is a time to be rewarded by God

We often see time alone as a time of temptation, but Jesus teaches in Matthew 6 that our Father sees what is done in secret and will reward us. When we pray, give, and serve when no one else is watching, we honor His presence. Empty time can become the devil's playground, so we should use our free time to serve God, study His Word, and disciple others. Rather than wandering, we should live with purpose and direction for the things of God.

Your direction determines your destination (vv. 13-23)

The woman in this passage seizes the young man, speaks smooth words, and assures him that her husband is away and no one will find out. He gives in because he forgets the presence of God and has too much idle time. Like an ox going to the slaughter or a bird rushing into a snare, he does not see the connection between the trap and death. Morally foolish people see no link between sin and death, but the wise person knows that the wages of sin is death. Every step we take shapes the direction of our lives, and this is a matter of life and death.

Walk in holiness, for the path of life leads to salvation (vv. 24-27)

Her house leads to the grave, while God's commandments lead to life. There are only two paths, and we must choose between holiness and foolishness. Salvation is seen not only at the beginning of our faith but in how we persevere and finish the race. A sign of the saved is that they seek holiness and hate their own sin more and more over time. Like Paul's charge to Timothy, we must keep watch over our lives and our teaching, walking in a manner worthy of God who calls us into His kingdom and glory.

Apply to Life

  • Let us feast on God's Word daily and memorize Scripture so that it moves from our heads into our hearts.
  • Let us flee temptation at once instead of testing how close we can come to it, and run back to the cross when we stray.
  • Let us use our alone time as an opportunity to pray, give, and serve in secret, knowing our Father sees and rewards us.
  • Let us build accountability, physical and emotional boundaries, and Christian community to guard our steps.
  • Let us examine our direction and seek holiness, so that our love for God grows and our hatred of sin increases over time.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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