The Seriousness of Sexual Sin

Let’s read Proverbs 6:30-35:

People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.  31  Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.  32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.  33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.  35 He will accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

Though Proverbs doesn’t talk about sexual sin for the entire length of the book, it is certainly a primary topic here in the beginning…why?  The reason for this is that sexual sin has so many lasting consequences.  If you steal money from a company, you can restore that money eventually.  You can even be restored to a job and the consequences of that sin will be almost erased.  But sexual sin is not like that.  Sexual sin has long-lasting, often even life-altering consequences.  That is why in verse 32 the writer says that “whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding.  He who does so destroys his own soul”.  That phrase “destroys his own soul” is a very serious indictment of sexual sin.  We really need to take these warnings to heart and follow God’s word.

In wisdom,
Eric