Staying faithful
2020-11-03Proverbs 5:15 NIV
For some of us, part of God’s plan is that we’ll form loving relationships and get married. For others, His plan is that we’ll stay single. If we’re designed for singleness, it might seem strange to think about faithfulness in marriage. But since marriage is a reflection of God’s love for His church (take a look at Ephesians 5:22-23), it can help us think about our faithfulness to God too.
In Proverbs 5, Solomon shows us a picture of staying faithful to a husband or wife using the imagery of a well: ‘Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers…For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast. For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly’ (vv.15-23 NIV).
In Solomon’s day, clean water was a very precious commodity, and a well or cistern was considered to be as valuable as gold. By comparing a spouse to a well, he’s showing us how valuable and refreshing a loving, faithful relationship can be. He also demonstrates the dangers of straying outside of that relationship. This is advice we need to pay attention to and remember if we get married. But for all of us, it’s also a reminder of how faithful we should be to God.
Wandering from Him and looking to other things to fulfil us can lead to disaster, but staying close to Him means we can experience His refreshment, peace and love.