Have you ever noticed how some things look so good on the outside, but the inside tells a whole different story? How about that pint of “healthy” ice cream that said it only had 100 calories per serving? It looks good....UNTIL you realize the serving size is only two spoonfuls.
Proverbs 5 feels a lot like that warning by saying listen, sin looks sweet, smooth like honey, easy like oil, but the aftertaste is awful and full of regret.
For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. (v3–4)
Wormwood? In Hebrew, it’s la’anah - a bitter plant used as a symbol for grief, sorrow, and even poison. You know what that says to me? Sin doesn’t just disappoint. It poisons. It leaves a bitterness that lingers far longer than the moment of “sweet.”
And isn’t that the truth?? We’ve all had those moments where we thought, “This will make me happy…this will fix it…this will make me feel better.” But later, we’re left with a feeling of regret that feels heavier than the pleasure ever did. That’s the wormwood.
The second half of Proverbs 5 shifts gears. Instead of just saying, “Don’t do this,” Solomon shows what to do.... stay faithful, be satisfied, find joy in the covenant God gave you.
He compares faithfulness to fresh water - life-giving, satisfying, something that actually quenches your thirst instead of leaving you parched.
I think about how often the world sells us fantasy (greener grass, better options, or sweeter escapes). But God keeps calling us back to faithfulness. To the people He’s given us, to the vows we’ve made, and to Himself. Because unlike sin, faithfulness doesn’t rot in your gut. It doesn’t turn sweet into bitter. It stays nourishing, steady, and real.
- Write With Me -
Can you think of a time when something looked good on the surface but turned out to be bitter underneath?
Where in your life do you need to stop chasing “sweetness” and start holding onto the steady goodness God has already placed in front of you?
How can you practice faithfulness this week in your marriage, your friendships, or how about your walk with God?
- Pray With Me -
Lord, I am so thankful for your Word and what I am learning from it. Help me not be fooled by what looks sweet but will only leave me bitter. Give me discernment to see the end of a path before I step on it. Teach me to love faithfulness more than fantasy, and to delight in the gifts You’ve already placed in my life. In Jesus' name, amen.
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