Proverbs 25:11(NLT)
“Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.”
A proverb is a piece of true wisdom that is conveyed in a sharp and pointed way. They are drawn from the experiences of life, and proverbs are so plainly put that most can remember and employ the wisdom of them in their own lives. Proverbs 25:11 tells us that a word of wisdom or rebuke, when spoken at the right place at the right time, is lovely and something we should greatly value. This is especially true when it comes to relationships with men that might lead to marriage.
We need wise counsel from God’s Word for Godly living, but we especially need it when we are considering a serious relationship with someone. God tells us in 1Peter 5:8(NLT), “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” This is God’s warning, so we must take it very seriously. He tells us to stay alert, because human beings tend to fall asleep at the wrong times. We become comfortable in situations, and before you know it, our fellowship with God is injured. We allow Him to slip to second, and the person we’re interested in moves to first place. 1Peter 5:8 says that the devil prowls around the earth, looking to pounce at just the right moment. Letting our allegiance to God slip is just the opportunity that satan is looking for.
Proverbs 25:28(NLT) states, “A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” During earlier biblical periods, cities were fortified by walls. These walls would surround the city and guards would be posted all around to protect it. Once a city’s walls were attacked and compromised, their protection was weakened, and the enemy would then destroy it. Proverbs 25:28 equates a person without self-control to a city with broken down walls, because the loss of self-control opens the door to the enemy.
Our Heavenly Father tells us in 2Timothy 1:7 that He has not given us a spirit of fear, He’s given us a spirit of power, love, and self-control. This solidifies the truth that we haven’t received a spirit of bondage of any kind. We should never allow ourselves to be enslaved by a person, by lust, bad habits, or lies. We have been set free by the accomplished work of Christ, and God commands us in Galatians 5:1 to never let anyone put a harness of slavery on us again.
We hear this Word loud and clear, but as soon as it appears a man might present the opportunity for a relationship or marriage, we fall asleep on the job. Self-control goes out the window, and we open ourselves to a man that might not be the one for us.
When a man and woman get married, they become one. God doesn’t want His children becoming one with the wrong someone. He doesn’t want us to be ignorant about this. God wants us to have our eyes always open wide, so that we see a trick from satan a mile away. The loss of self-control with a man that isn’t our destiny partner means that our priorities are out of whack. We should be under no delusions here; the enemy is very cunning and has no mercy. Like a lion, he watches for these kinds of vulnerabilities in us so that he can catch us off guard and pounce.
Ephesians 6:11 says that our Heavenly Father has well equipped us to stand firm against all strategies of the devil, but if we don’t put on the Father’s armor, we’re not going to stand firm. Not only that, we’re not going to recognize a trick from a blessing. Many of us are ensnared this way. It’s a trap, but we don’t recognize it until it’s too late.
Proverbs 25:19(NLT) states, “Putting confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble is like chewing with a broken tooth or walking on a lame foot.” In other words, trusting in someone without any proof of their stability might leave you with a big mess. This is not what Heavenly Father wants for your life. He doesn’t want us to be ignorant about the dangers of becoming one with the wrong person. He wants us to be intelligent Christians with a keen sense of discernment. Tricks of the enemy are designed to paralyze us spiritually. They are plotted against us to nullify our faith and destroy the intimacy in our relationship with God. We have been empowered through Jesus Christ to prevent this from happening, and we must lean on this empowerment by being activated in patience, prayer, and self-control.
Everything that looks good isn’t necessarily good for us. Stay close to the Lord for His divine direction. Be careful, alert, and wait for God’s timely advice. Do not be fooled by men that can be easily weaponized by satan to destroy your faith. You might think you know him, but there is no way that you can know a man’s heart. You don’t know if evil is hiding behind a cute face with sweet and clever words. Only God knows the real story, so continue to cling to Him with all that you are and pray for discernment. Don’t rush into anything. Wait on the Lord, and at the right time and place, He will show you exactly what you’re working with.■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“Know What You’re Working With”, written by Kim Times, edited by Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2022. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!