PROVERBS ON SELF-CONTROL

September 1, 2019
Good morning. We are continuing our study on the book of Proverbs, so if you have your Bible, turn to chapter 7. We’ve been trying to cover one theme at a time, so this morning we’re going to consider what this book has to say about self-control. How can we avoid the sin and temptations that seek to destroy our lives? 
A few years ago someone gave me a very helpful book called The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook. This book was loaded with practical wisdom to survive any type of scenario that you might encounter. Like how to survive a poisonous snakebite. Or how to maneuver the top of a moving train and jump inside. This book can teach you how to deliver a baby in a taxicab, or let you know what to do if your parachute fails to open. Because you never know. Life is filled with danger and you want to be ready. 
In many ways, the book of Proverbs feels like a survival guide to life. Disaster lurks around every corner. And I’m not talking about high-speed chases and snakebites. I’m talking about the temptation to sin & be led astray by the passions of our flesh. We have an enemy that prowls around like a lion, seeking someone to devour. If we are not intimately aware of the power of sin & the weakness of our flesh, we can dismantle our lives before they even begin. You can destroy your future & sacrifice everything God has given you in about 5 minutes of self-indulgence. Esau gave up his inheritance for a bowl of soup. Solomon had seen so many godly and talented young men give up their potential for a cheap thrill, so he loaded the book of Proverbs with wisdom on self-control. You are growing in wisdom when you can anticipate& avoidtemptation. This is a message that is extremely relevant for our own pleasure-seeking society. When the Spirit of God fills us, he produces the fruit of self-control. 
The wise narrator sets the scene. He looked out of his window one evening just as the sun was going down and the city lights were beginning to light up the city skyline. This is a small but important detail. We are way more susceptible to temptation when the lights are out. We feel like nobody can see us, so we let down our guard. The narrator noticed a group of friends walking around town. These guys weren’t out to cause trouble; they were just looking for some fun. They were young and free. Or, as the text says, they were simple.The word literally means open-minded. They’re old enough to walk the streets at night, but not experienced enough to navigate them well.
As the father observed this pack of young men, he noticed one of the men break off and sneak down a side street by himself. He had a curious look on his face. He had probably heard the rumors about a beautiful woman that lived somewhere on that street, so he wanted to check it out. There’s no way that he’ll actually find her, but he’s bored, so he decided to give it a shot. Look at verse 10. 
Well, the rumors were true. Can you believe his luck? He found the beautiful woman that his friends were talking about. (Though, the narrator wants us to know that the woman actually found him. This wasn’t a chance meeting. She had been roaming the town looking for her next victim. This young, pleasure-seeking simpleton was the perfect candidate. But he didn’t know that. He just felt lucky). His heart rate immediately spiked. The woman was dressed to kill and she was stunningly beautiful. He wasn’t expecting to actuallymeet her, so he had to stumble around to find the right words. How do you start a conversation like that? Would he stick out his hand and introduce himself? Look at v13. 
Now that he’s settled in, the woman uses one of her best strategies. In v15 she said, “I’m so glad I found you. I’m so glad you broke off from your friends. I was hoping just you would come.” This woman isn’t messing around. She went right to the heart. She knew he was feeling lonely. Men don’t aimlessly walk the streets at dusk unless they’re lonely. She spoke right into the longings of his heart “I’ve been waiting for you!” I wonder if anyone had ever spoken to him like that. It must have felt good. She’s just getting started. Look at the plan she suggests in v16.  
This young man’s naïve heart was fatally wounded before he knew what was happening. As he walked into the dimly lit, aromatic room, the narrator of the story noticed a strange look on hic face. A look of longing and desire, but also one of regret and defeat. Where else had he seen that face? That’s right – it’s the same helpless face the cow makes on the way to the slaughter. Or it’s like a mouse grabbing a piece of cheese on a mousetrap. In the same moment he is satisfied and trapped. That’s how this young man feels. He’s going to have a wonderful night. But not really. His life is over and he knows it. He had been played.
And so this is our sobering story. Thank you, Solomon. What are we supposed to do with this information? We learn from it! Look at verses 24-27. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
Solomon included this story so that we can develop wisdom & avoid walking to our own death. He has given us a brilliant case study of a classic temptation. What a gift. We can break it down and learn from it. I want to highlight 5 quick lessons to help us from plunging into the same house of destruction. 
First, if we want to avoid sin, we need to live with conviction. When you read a story like this, it’s important to determine the turning point. Where did the man make his biggest mistake? Wasit when he walked into the house of the adulteress? Or whenshe kissed him? Wasit when he turned down her street? I think it was much earlier. I think the turning point happened when he laced up his shoes and decided to navigate a broken world without convictions. Solomon tells us that he was simpleminded. He was gullible.Open to attack. He was not held by a set of core doctrines & beliefs. So, when the woman showed up & kissed him, it was too late to think or resist. He was enslaved by his passions. 
Even full-grown men put boundaries around things they love. Do you lock your house? Do you keep your money safe? If you protect your money and your stuff, why wouldn’t you protect your soul? It’s just not wise for some of you to step inside the bar. Some of you need to get rid of your computer at your home. Some of you need to end a relationship. Some of you should just go to bed early next Friday night. It’s worth taking a radical step if it will keep you from a destructive sin. 
God will empower us to say no to sin! We have an enemy that prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour. But friends, he was defeated. (Not will bedefeated; he wasdefeated when Jesus went to the cross).Because of that, we can anticipate and avoid the snares of the devil. Listen to these encouraging words from 1 Cor. 13.No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, & he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.I pray that you would develop wisdom and resist the snares of the devil. 
Some of you have sinned, but you don’t know what to do. And so you hide. You conceal your transgression. If this is how you deal with sin, I have nothing but bad news for you. You will bear the consequences. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There is another option for you. If you confess your sins to Jesus and forsake them, you will obtain mercy. You see – your sinled you astray like an ox to the slaughter. But Jesus, even though he had no sin, willingly went to the slaughter like a lamb. He did it because he loves you. Your sinbrought you into the pit of hell. But you don’t have to stay there because Jesus willingly went walked into the pit of hell to get you back. Don’t hide your sin. Confess them to Jesus and you will receive mercy.  
This morning we are going to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. This is a chance for us to gather around the broken body of Jesus and the shed blood. This is a vivid reminder of the great love of Jesus. We were led astray by our sinful passions and caught in the snares of death. But Jesus gave his own life for us. As we eat and drink this morning, may we remember that we are united with Christ. His Spirit lives in us. He has taken us from the snares of death, and he has given us strength to say no to ungodliness. 
In just a moment, the elders & deacons will distribute the elements, first the bread, and then the cup. Take a piece, and hold it. We’ll eat together. This is a family meal and so if you belong to Christ, you can eat. If you have an unconfessed sin in your life, I want to invite you to simply cry out to Jesus in your chair. Say, “Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner.” He will forgive you and welcome you into the family. 
Pray
1 Corinthians 11:23–26
[23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 
[25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Stand and pray.