In the midst of Job’s suffering, we find the kind of man Job had been and continued to be. In Job Chapter 31, we get a snapshot from the man himself as he defended himself against his friends and also cried out to God.
The Bible says in Job 31:9-12 “If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or I have lurked at my neighbor’s doorway, may my wife grind for another, and let others kneel down over her. For that would be a lustful crime; Moreover, it would be an iniquity punishable by judges. For it would be fire that consumes to Abaddon, and would uproot all my increase…”
Job paints a vivid picture of the danger of sin, specifically of adultery.
- He describes it as a lustful crime. Before the physical act of adultery ever takes place, it begins in the heart, Matthew 5:28-30. What begins in the heart and left unchecked will eventually show up in the flesh.
- This righteous man describes this action as “iniquity.” Committing adultery has been a sin in every age, Leviticus 20:10; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Marriage has always been viewed as holy in the sight of God and to be held in high honor. Job understood that he would be judged by God for that particular action as well.
- Job goes on to say that adultery is like a fire. I like what one person has said, “Sex outside of marriage is like a forest fire. It just creates devastation. Sex inside marriage is like a fire in a fireplace.” Job would agree! Like a fire, adultery can’t be defined into one particular moment. It spreads and it inflicts great harm in ways many people may not even imagine. Job says that it consumes and it leads to destruction.
- Even worse, it burns things down to the roots. Job recognizes the prosperity, the blessings God has given him would be destroyed with this particular sin. One act of unfaithfulness would burn down what took years to build. Reputation, family trust, influence, finances, even the peace of having a good conscience could be taken away.
It’s important to note that Job isn’t merely saying, “Don’t commit adultery.” Earlier in Job 31:1, he said, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” Way before the adultery begins, a person’s covenant with their eyes has been broken. Therefore, it’s essential that one protects the harvest by guarding the roots.
There are plenty of other stories we could turn to. King David comes to mind. But this brief commentary from Job sums it up quite nicely. Don’t trade years of increase for a moment of desire. These kinds of moments are way to expensive!