July 5th – Proverbs 5: In the END

“For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.” – Proverbs 5:3,4

In the end, it all will be clear. In the end, the decisions we make, sometimes wondering if we are doing the right thing will be exceedingly clear. In the end, EVERYONE will know how right, or how wrong you actually were. In Proverbs, we are being continually reminded of this fact. It seems that part of Wisdom and understanding is simply looking past the temporary nature and appeal of things into the end of the matter. The adulteress sounds good, looks good and feels good, but in the END, she’ll kill you!

I believe that everything in our life should be considered from an eternal perspective. Every decision has got to pass the test of endurance. You should ask yourself, “How is this decision I am making today going to affect me tomorrow, or next year, or ten years from now?” If people considered the end of things, I believe there would be a LOT less bad decisions. As this Proverb tells us concerning adultery, yeah, the whore here is sweet as honey and as smooth as silk, but in the end, she’s nothing but heartburn and a piercing sword!

“At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent. You will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors. I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly." – Proverbs 5:11-14

Again, we’re told to consider the END of things. It’s at the END of their life that the fool FINALLY has a realization of the price he paid to forsake wisdom and understanding. Hating discipline and spurning correction is fun… for a minute. It’s great to hang loose and not be disciplined in the moment. But the price in the long term really isn’t that pretty. But at the end of his probably short life, the fool considers the END. By disregarding the teaching of his teachers and failing to listen to his instructors, her has come to the brink of utter ruin in front of EVERYONE!

LIFE LESSON:

Consider the END of the matter, not only the temporary benefits.