---

There is no way to measure the heartache, the hurt lives, the heavy burdens or the sheer feeling of helplessness that has come as the result of the awful sin of fornication. Fornication is a great problem in our churches. Not a month goes by that I don’t hear of a good Christian or some preacher who has fallen prey to this sin. David, who had the greatest of hearts fell to this sin; Solomon, who had the greatest of minds fell to this sin. Samson who had the greatest of physical strength fell into this sin. In Proverbs chapter six the problem of fornication as well as the protection from fornication are given.

Many who have committed fornication said, “It could never happen to me!” Yet the Scripture warns that the possibility is always there. Along with the warning of the possibility there is also a way to avoid it. The old adage is true, “this book, (the bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.” If we get out of the bible our chances of falling into fornication go up exponentially.

Since fornication is a real possibility, the Scripture provides warnings that we should be aware of as protection against fornication. First, man should avoid succumbing to FLATTERING TONGUES (Prov. 6: 24; 7:21). The words of a strange woman, are like a great spider that can spin a web around its victim, forcing him into the trap. The bible says, “with her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him” (7:21). Lady remember, a man who is not receiving the encouragement that he needs by his wife is very vulnerable to immorality. The same is true in reverse. We must beware of this need of encouraging words. It is a lot cheaper to learn to build up our mates than to hire lawyers.

The second thing Proverbs six warns us to avoid is FLESHLY BEAUTY (Prov. 6:25a). Many take great care for the way they look before they get married then forget how they look after they get married. That isn’t right. It is dishonest for one thing. It is lazy for another. Fleshly beauty is not everything, but it is something. A smart wife, will realize that her husband has a natural tendency to be attracted to the beauty of a woman. No woman should consider herself in a life long beauty contest with other women, but both women and men should love their mates so much that they want to look their best. By the way, some of you tight-wad sorry low-down men should quit complaining when your wife needs to get some things that help her to look her best. If you want your wife to take pride in how she looks she doesn’t need to be lectured when she needs some money for things she needs in this area. A real man would make it easy for his wife to take care of herself. All of that said, regardless of how your spouse looks you have no right to be unfaithful to your spouse!

When a man gives in to a flattering tongue, or to fleshly beauty, the consequences will be many-fold. The bible says he will face certain defilement: "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent" (vrs. 26-29). Twice God uses the word burn to describe the effect of immorality. Nothing scars like a burn. A fornicator will be scared by the burns of his sin for a lifetime. These burns may heal with time but the scars will always be there to remind you of your sin. He faces destruction: “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul” (vs. 32). Many a home, ministry, and marriage has been utterly destroyed by this sin. He also faces dishonour: “A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away” (vss. 33-35). In spite of what Ruckman may say the immoral man is no longer blameless! He has lost his ability to be qualified to preach! The stigma will not be wiped away!

In conclusion, you can know that fornication will ruin your life and your ministry. A good name, peace of mind, and the love and respect of your family will be lost when you give in to fornication! It’s not worth it! I Corinthians 6:18 says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” God help us to heed this warning to FLEE!

— Steve Mays, Trumpet Editor