1. Wisdom has built her
house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
2. She has prepared her meat and
mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3. She has sent out her maids,
and she calls
from the highest point of the city.
4. "Let all who are simple come
in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.
5. "Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6. Leave your simple ways and
you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.
7. "Whoever corrects a mocker
invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8. Do not rebuke a mocker or he
will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9. Instruct a wise man and he
will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10. "The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11. For through me your days
will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12. If you are wise, your wisdom
will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."
13. The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
14. She sits at the door of her
house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15. calling out to those who
pass by,
who go straight on their way.
16. "Let all who are simple come
in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.
17. "Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!"
18. But little do they know that
the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the
grave.
Wisdom consists of more
than logic. It involves lifestyle — physical
behavior.
So it is with strategies for
standing strong sexually. They entail logic-lifestyle
partnerships.
No wonder Wisdom's menu (verse 5
above) includes physical stuff, namely food and drink
(the logic entree can be assumed to be present as
well).
How does this help us porn
strugglers? Maybe only to remind us that strategies
for standing strong entail more than ideas.
Success calls for effective lifestyle options as well
— yes, even tasty diversions such as good food
and drink.
Me? Don't laugh, but at day's
end, if stress of any kind has gotten to me, I reach
for a good crossword puzzle (USA Today's is my
favorite), cheese, crackers, and something good to
drink. Then I cap it all off with a chapter from
Proverbs. (This process doesn't make me stronger than
anybody else, but it does help me regain peace and
self-control).
What's your "menu" for dealing
with stress (including sexual temptation)? Send in
your ideas to helpexxit@exxit.org.
We'll post your good suggestions on the eXXit
site.
Bon
appétit!