Proverbs 9:15

Danger ahead! Even if you are going where you should and doing what you should, an enemy that wants to take you down to death and hell may meet you on your way today. These are chance encounters of a dangerous kind, and they come in many different forms. Though you may do everything virtuously today, not everyone else is doing the same.

Young man, someone wants to meet you today. Do not be surprised, if during your day’s normal activities, an enticing woman invites you to spend intimate time with her. Are you prepared to resist her invitation? Focus your attention carefully, and commit your heart to godliness, before it is too late. You are the prey of whorish women (Pr 23:28). The more noble and virtuous you are, greater effort may be applied toward you (Pr 6:26).

Her invitation may or may not be verbal. Do you grasp this? It may not be a conversation, phone call, note, email, or text. She may call for your attention by her appearance, clothing, body language, actions, looks, or touches. She may not even be a live person, if she invites you to desire her by pictures in a magazine, in a movie, or on the Internet. She could easily be calling to men in general but catches your eye among many others.

Though you rose intending to fear God and be faithful to your sister Wisdom (Pr 7:1-5), a woman in your city wants to steal you from them both. Though you went to your God-given career by an acceptable route, she can find you. Even in noble duties to serve God and man, you will meet this woman calling to you (Pr 7:12). She will disrupt your plans and life, and unless you are very strong, she will destroy you (Pr 7:21-27; 23:27-28).

“Passengers” is not difficult: they are men passing, or going, on their way. And these passengers are not looking for her, because they are going right on their ways to their appointed stations and duties in life. But she seeks her victims from among them (Pr 9:14). Many men have been snared by a strange woman when they least expected it. It has been said that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, so Solomon warned you here.

She hunts for the precious life (Pr 6:26); base sinners and low-class men are not as appealing; you may meet her in places where wisdom is found (Pr 9:3,14). The more you are like Joseph, a noble ambition, the more she will want you (Gen 39:6-7). But she hunts for the simple, the foolish – she knows seducing a man of virtue is hard (Pr 9:16; 7:7). If you study all of Solomon’s warnings about her and sexual sins, you will be prepared.

Understand and fear the warning here. Consider that Satan does not worry about carnal Christians, for they already serve him by their compromising lives. He wants to distract or ruin men committed to godliness and Jesus Christ’s kingdom. He wants to take down good Christian young men, for the average Christian has already neutered his own power and testimony by worldly living. The more committed you are, the greater the danger.

Understand and fear the warning here. Your faithfulness and diligence to God and men does not discourage or deter her. She wants a prince. The devil encourages her to want a prince. Though you are soberly committed to godliness and virtue, she will still approach you from time to time. The advance warning of this proverb should prepare you for those events. Be a Joseph! Do not be a Samson! Be like Jesus! Do not be like David!

She may be a church member. Where would Satan desire more to cause private or public havoc? Professing Christians are not alike; they rule their lusts and lives differently. They range from the very reserved to foolish flirts. Good church members associate often, have much in common, get to know each other well, and discuss personal aspects of life. Be on guard as you go right on your way – even to worship God and serve Jesus Christ.

She is bold (Pr 7:13); she does not like domestic duties at home (Pr 7:11); she may be a fellow worker. She will use any means to get your attention, your carnal attention. She will inflame your lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life. She may speak of love, but it is only lust that intrigues and motivates her (Pr 7:15-18). She will invite you to forbidden pleasures (Pr 9:17), but she will not tell you of the death there (Pr 9:18).

You must learn to pray wisely, as the Lord Jesus Christ taught, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt 6:13). As David taught, “Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness” (Ps 119:36). Your Father in heaven can deliver you from even meeting her, or He can give you the strength to resist her, if you meet her. You ought to sing and pray the excellent song, “My Soul, Be on thy Guard.”

Do not let your heart decline to her ways, and avoid her haunts (Pr 7:25). She will find you anyway; you should not give her any extra opportunities. Keep your desires on noble and spiritual things (Col 3:2). Keep your heart with all diligence (Pr 4:23), for the destructive sin she offers cannot occur if you have not thought upon it. Remember your sister Wisdom and the impossibility of recovering virtue once given away (Pr 6:32-33).

The Lord is calling you by Lady Wisdom as well (Pr 9:1-6). If you disregard His call through her, He will allow calamities to swallow you alive (Pr 1:20-33). Remember your Lord and brother Paul, though greatly distracted by many duties and temptations; they set their hearts only toward the will of God in all things (Lu 9:51; Acts 20:22-24; Heb 4:15). You can fight a good fight, finish your course, and keep the faith as Paul did (II Tim 4:7).