What practical steps can prevent the folly described in Proverbs 6:32? The Core Warning “Yet he who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” (Proverbs 6:32) The verse leaves no wiggle room: adultery is self–destructive folly. To avoid that ruin, God graciously provides clear safeguards. Why Adultery Is Folly • It sabotages covenant (“What God has joined together, let no man separate.” – Matthew 19:6). • It invites God’s discipline (Hebrews 13:4). • It wounds every relationship in its blast radius (Proverbs 6:34-35). • It damages the soul (“He who commits adultery … destroys himself.”). Guarding the Heart Before Temptation Strikes • Keep a vigilant inner life. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) • Make a covenant with your eyes, like Job: “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze with desire upon a virgin?” (Job 31:1) • Address lust early. Jesus equates it with adultery in seed form (Matthew 5:28). Halt it at the thought level with Scripture and prayerful surrender (Psalm 119:11). Practical Steps for Daily Living • Run, don’t linger. “Flee from sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) Opportunities avoided are temptations defeated. • Set protective boundaries—private meeting limits, filtered devices, open calendars your spouse can see. • Detox your media diet. What you watch or read trains your appetites. Philippians 4:8 gives the replacement list: whatever is true, honorable, pure. • Schedule margin. Fatigue lowers discernment; rest restores watchfulness (Mark 6:31). • Memorize key passages (Proverbs 5–7; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8) and quote them aloud when tempted. Cultivate Your Marriage (or Future Marriage) • Nourish emotional intimacy daily—listening, shared devotion time, laughter. • Enjoy physical intimacy regularly; it is God’s protective gift (1 Corinthians 7:3-5). • Speak affirmation rather than criticism; a satisfied heart wanders less. • Pray together, inviting Christ to be the third strand in the cord (Ecclesiastes 4:12). Live Transparently within Community • Confide struggles to a trusted, mature believer of the same sex (James 5:16). • Submit major decisions to wise counsel; secrecy is the enemy’s playground (Proverbs 15:22). • Serve others; an outward focus starves selfish fantasies (Galatians 5:13). Walk by the Spirit • “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Pursue daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit through Word, worship, and obedience. • Remember identity: your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Honor God with it. The Spirit-empowered believer doesn’t merely avoid adultery; he or she delights in purity, experiencing the freedom and joy promised to those who heed the wisdom of Proverbs 6:32. |
    |