(This reading is based on Proverbs 5 and is read in accordance with the Revived by His Word initiative of the General Conference of SDAs.)
"For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey...but in the end she is bitter as wormwood." Prov. 5: 3, 4
After 700 wives and 300 concubines (hardly Heaven's ideal), Solomon ought to have learned something about good relationships and bad ones. The various tragic paths his life took, pinnacled by his drift into idolatry (1 Kings 11: 4), would more than make Solomon a reputed authority on this subject. Experience does teach wisdom. But in Proverbs 5: 1 Solomon clearly implies that at least in some instances there is greater wisdom to gain wisdom from someones else experience than our own, "My son, pay attention to MY wisdom; lend your ear to MY understanding,"
Solomon goes on in verse 2 to talk about avoiding an immoral woman (or man); articulating how we should see through the vain platitudes of one who will only in the end work to our ruin; dripping from their mouths as it were, "wormwood-honey." We must constantly endeavour to abide by moral principles in making choices. Some wise person said, "If in doubt, leave it out." We must avoid allowing influences into our lives that will undermine our morality (including sexual morality). And irrespective of what cultures seem to dictate, morality is same for a male as it is for a female. It is as wrong for a male (boy or man) to engage in pre or extramarital sexual affairs as it is for a female (girl or woman), because in the end, either instance will produce the same ruinous result.
Now when it comes to making the choice of a life partner, I believe that we are expected to be critical and judgmental of each other. Nothing is to be ignored. If you think you saw something off, trust yourself, you did see it. If you ignore it, it is going to come back to haunt you. We must not allow the intensity of emotions to compromise the integrity of our discernment and objectivity. The choice of a life partner is a choice either for Heaven or hell. Leave nothing to chance.
Father in Heaven, we pray today for levelheadedness in all decisions that we must make, knowing fully well that all our choices will determine whether or not we make it into Your kingdom and will more-so reflect whether or not we truly love You. In love we pray, amen.
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