"Can a Man Take Fire to His Bosom and His Clothes Not Be Burned?"
(Proverbs 6:27)
By Micky Galloway

Solomon asked this question. Who better qualified to address immorality, uncleanness, fornication, and adultery than Solomon? He had suffered greatly because of his own mistakes. He extols the virtues of God's instructions to avoid evil women. He then warns, "Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids." (Proverbs 6:25) He warns of the ruin that comes into the life of one who ignorantly falls into such a trap. "For on account of a harlot (a man is brought) to a piece of bread; and the adulteress hunteth for the precious life." (Proverbs 6:26) When we consider the abundance of this iniquity, how heinous it is by its very nature, its exceedingly harmful consequences, and how certainly it destroys the seeds of the spiritual life in the soul, we do not cease wondering why the cautions against it are so often repeated.

And so, Solomon asks, "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Or can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?" No one can carry fire in his lap and not be burned! The adulteress or whoremonger is like fire clasped to one's bosom. The whoremonger or adulterer treads upon the coals of lust; and he cannot, therefore, expect to escape the flames of conscience and judicial vengeance. "Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." (KJV Hebrews 13:4)

We study about lasciviousness, uncleanness, and fornication as though they are sins that do not tempt Christians. Yet, many of the New Testament passages that discuss these things are addressed to Christians. These works of the flesh are "manifest" (Galatians 5:19); that is, they are open, clearly demonstrated, and obviously opposed to righteousness. Surely, an understanding of these terms should stir feelings of abhorrence for what they indicate in the heart of every one of God's children.

What Is Fornication? There are several words, both nouns and verbs, that are translated "fornication," or some form of the word. "Fornication" is defined as:

"The practice of sexual immorality and harlotry: hence a symbol for idolatry ... in the N.T. the words for "fornication," "to practice fornication," etc., refer to every kind of sexual intercourse outside marriage." (The Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, Vol. 2, p. 321)

This is a broad term that includes any kind of sexual immorality-whoredom; concubinage; adultery; incest; lewdness; uncleanness; prostitution of one's body to satisfy the lust of another, whether male or female; homosexuality; bestiality; and every kind of unlawful sexual intercourse, including the sexual unfaithfulness of a married man or woman (Matthew 5:32; 19:9). The many definitions of the term could fill a ream of paper, but that is hardly necessary.

What Promotes Fornication? This question is not difficult when we consider our own weak attitudes toward such a low moral standard, along with the sensual emphasis placed upon every phase of our lives. Consider the following reasons fornication has become an accepted part of life.

  1. Our concept of marriage. Less than 50 years ago, divorce and remarriage, except when adultery was involved, was not acceptable socially, much less religiously. Adultery is defined as illicit intercourse with the spouse of another, and fornication is usually understood to be the broader term including all kinds of unlawful sexual behavior of all people, married or unmarried.

    The commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14), included all sexual sins among all people. Sexual sins included rape, incest, seduction, sodomy, prostitution, homosexuality, bestiality and self-abuse (Leviticus 18:6-23; 19:20,29; 20:10-21; Deuteronomy 22:13-30). Most of these sins were punishable by death. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew. 5:28) This is quite different from the present concept of marriage, where one can go in and out of relationships as he pleases and not feel he is guilty of one of the most destructive sins.

  2. Loose morals among the young. We learn morality from those about us. When parents, teachers, and political leaders do not give high priority to how they dress, and express and encourage sexual freedom by their own lives and conduct, how can we expect children to mature with proper respect for righteous living? When parents:
    • Approve, and often provide, contraceptives for their children, or
    • Provide freedom of the bedroom for their children and their dates, or
    • Speak of their children's "affairs" as being "only natural" or "flirtatious,"

    We are encouraging loose morals and setting the stage for tragedy to occur.

    Paul charged fathers to bring up their children in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord." (KJV Ephesians 6:4) What are we thinking when we permit our children to dress immodestly and participate in questionable activities in questionable environments? Such looseness has been called "flirtatious." Someone please explain to me what is "flirtatious" about exposing oneself to another who is not your marriage companion! It is sinful, even if the world considers it flirting. Some believe if we call such attire "swimming attire," and there is water nearby, that makes it all right. What perverted thinking! What happened to modesty and the desire to provide things honorable in the sight of all men?

  3. Immoral emphasis in entertainment. The entire entertainment world is given to the spread of corrupt sexual practices. It is becoming more and more difficult to watch a movie or a television program that does not suggest or openly display some form of fornication. Even many of today's popular songs are suggestive of fornication. How much are we willing to allow in our homes? Many of us allow into our homes, in the form of magazines, TV shows, movies, or computer sites, things that we would not consider allowing through our front doors. We have become so conditioned that we no longer reject these as offensive forms of entertainment, but rather as an acceptable way of life.

What Can We Do? Fornication has a destructive impact on every aspect of our lives. It has resulted in disease and death; it has destroyed nations, families, and churches.

Indeed, one cannot take fire into his bosom and his clothes not be burned. He cannot walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched.


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