Wrong Place. Wrong Time.

Verse: Proverbs 7::6-9
At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.

Devotion
This Proverb teaches a lesson by telling a story. The first few verses (before the ones quoted above) talk about the importance of keeping the commands of wisdom. Then the author says “they will keep you from the adulterous woman.”

How do we apply this to our lives? Is this only a warning against adultery?

When I read this section, I find an important lesson that applies to any kind of temptation. The author describes a “youth” who starts to make a sequence of poor decisions. He (1) went to her street, (2) to her corner, (3) in her direction, (4) at night.

Wrong place. Wrong time. But he chose it. He didn’t end up there on accident, did he? And how often do we do the same thing?

We let ourselves listen to that depressing song when we are feeling down already. We let ourselves watch too much Netflix when what we really need to do is connect with a real person. We allow ourselves to watch or look at something inappropriate as an escape from our feelings or stress.

The point is, we can either avoid temptation when we are feeling weak, or we can make our way closer and closer to it by making excuses, rationalizing, and making poor decisions.

It takes wisdom to recognize when we are feeling weak and vulnerable to temptation. And it takes courage to not go “to the wrong places at the wrong times.” Whether that’s with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or at work with a co-worker, or with your phone, Netflix, music, or whatever.

Wisdom will call to us to walk away from the temptation that at first seems so alluring, but in the end eats us alive.

Today, take a moment to think about your life. Are there any areas of vulnerability right now in your life? Are there any ways you are allowing yourself to be in “the wrong place at the wrong time” in your actions, emotions, or thoughts? What choices do you need to make to keep yourself from the places that would bring destruction to your soul?

Prayer

I pray you’d give me courage to act on the wisdom you show me in my life. Help me to walk away from temptation, and not towards it!

Author: Christian Dunn