How To Be Wise (Part 5)

I must say before I get started, "Go Kansas!!!" I was really hoping it would be Kansas and Texas in the championship to show the strength of the Big 12, but I believe that is evident, none the less.

Okay, it's been a couple of days and I'm a little behind. Malinda's sister had my nephew, Markus, dedicated yesterday and we were down there all weekend. However, I did spend some time reading over chapters 5 and 6 while I was away. Hopefully you read them as well. So here we go with chapter 5.

I believe this whole chapter can be summed up by verses 18-20. I like the way The Message Bible articulates the point. It's pretty "in your face," none the less, it speaks volumes to anyone who will listen. "Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose--don't ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted! Why would you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a whore?..."

Not only can we apply this at face value to our marriage relationship, but we can also apply this to our relationship with Jesus. The New Testament refers to Christ followers (the Church) as His bride. He is forever faithful to us and loves us completely. He demonstrated His love for us by dying for us, even while we were separated from Him by our sin, so that our original designed love affair could be restored. We should "enjoy" that relationship and "take delight" in Him; however, many times we "take His love for granted" and "trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills" with what the world has to offer.

Verse 3-6 tell of the temptation and seduction, of how they seem enticing for a moment, but, in the end, lead to bitterness, pain and ultimately in destruction. How many precious years have been wasted in foolish pursuits? How many dreams have been crushed by bad choices? How many relationships have been destroyed because of cheap thrills? How many Christians have turned there back on Christ because of flirtation with the world? How many young people have squandered their vitality in search of popularity and pleasure?

May you be so in love with Jesus that nothing else turns you away from Him!