Don't Be a Sucker for Seduction!
A false sense of sexual entitlement leaves men easy prey for the seductress.
 
Christian men today have an enemy that wears a skirt, a sports bra or sometimes very little at all. This enemy is seduction.
 
In Proverbs 7, the folly of adultery is addressed, complete with graphic detail of how an adulterous woman can cost a man everything. As King Solomon addresses his son, he addresses all men who read his words:
 
"At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment. 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" (Prov. 7:6-9, NIV).
 
That statement, "He was...walking along in the direction of her house" is important because it places some responsibility on the young man. He chose to walk that road.
 
I have heard countless stories of men who, like this young man, suffered the consequences of taking that first curious step down the wrong path. In all of these cases the men were "walking in the direction of her house." Most of these incidents occur "after hours" and in the wrong section of town or in a place where a man of principle wouldn't go.
 
Proverbs 7:12 says, "Now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks." I think this was included to help men be aware that this type of woman does exist in your community. Don't be fooled into thinking you live in Mayberry. The seductress is a reality in every locale (even in church) and needs to be guarded against.
 
"She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said..." (Prov. 7:13).
 
Sexually, the seductress is confident. She intuitively understands that all men want to be wanted. She knows that as a man your deepest longing is to feel desired by a woman sexually. That's why she talks with a "brazen" or shameless face. She knows what she's doing.
 
"'So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!'" (Prov. 7:15).
 
She will make you "feel" that you're special, smart, handsome and appreciated. Remember, if a woman who is not your wife is trying to convince you that you're special, you are being warmed up to be fried, no matter who she is.
 
"'I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!'" (Prov. 7:16-18).
 
This verse is so important to understand: "'Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!'" The seductress believes that sex is love. But she is not offering you love--just a one-night stand.
 
Love involves lifelong commitment. It means working out differences and serving each other for a lifetime, till death do you part.
 
"With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose" (Prov. 7:21-22).
 
The seductress' most powerful weapon is her "smooth talk." Many men have found the longer they talk to her, the weaker they become and the easier she can conquer them. Her words are enticing and full of promises for immediate pleasure. They are earmarks of a seductress.
 
Christian men have somehow been lulled into a stupor sexually. The false sense of men's sexual entitlement that motivates them to engage in pornography, masturbation and other wrong behavior leaves them easy prey for the seductress.
 
But you can totally escape this trap by loving God, pursuing wisdom and living a life based upon principles rather than seeking immediate pleasure. When you see any woman displaying the signs we discussed here, run from her!
 
In a culture that promotes female sexuality in every form of media, temptation can be lurking everywhere. But our God is everywhere as well, and if we walk with Him, He will deliver us. Be wise, be careful and be blessed!
 

By Doug Weiss, Ph.D., founder of Heart to Heart Counseling Center and author of The 7 Love Agreements, which explains the power of unity in marriage and outlines seven “love agreements” that will revitalize relationships (available at strangdirect.com). Contact him at drdougweiss.com, info@drdougweiss.com or 5080 Mark Dabling Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO 80918. Visit his Web site at intimatematters.com.