Life or Suffering?

Today's Three-minute Bible Study
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Title: Life or Suffering?------------------------- Date: 1/11/2003
Keywords: "indignation" "life" "shame" "suffering"
Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation.

Passage: Proverbs 9:1-18*

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.

Question

What's your reaction when you hear people criticizing porn?

 

Practical help

Many of us porn strugglers are red-faced when caught viewing smut. Others of us are indignant, defending porn as a right, thank you very much.

And you? Are you ashamed or indignant when people discover your porn habit?

Verses 7-12 above foretell the results of admitting versus defending folly: life on the one hand, suffering on the other.

These verses don't try to dissuade you from folly. They just matter-of-factly advise you of the consequences.

Every now and then, it's good to cease debate on our actions and just consider the consequences. We can forget the shame or indignation of the present and make up our minds instead based on the inevitable results of our behavior.

So which outcome do you want, fellow porn struggler? Life or suffering?


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*Scriptures are from The Holy Bible: New International Version, © Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.

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