Declining Heart

10-20-09

Proverbs 7:24-25
After uncovering the ways of an adulterous woman, Proverbs gives the application one must apply to avoid getting caught up in her ways. The application is extended not only to young men but to all men. It is not limited to males but it includes females, particularly those who admire her benefits and aspire to be like her.

The application Proverbs give is this, do not let the heart decline to her ways and do not go astray in her path. It is interesting to note that the heart has to take a decline in order to get caught up in her ways. The implication is that the heart is on the correct path and in order to get caught up with an adulterous woman the heart would have to deviate from it correctness. The correct path that the heart deviates from is not made clear in the passage, but what is clear is the wrongness of the ways of an adulterous woman and any path that leads to her and any action that comes from her should be avoided.

What is a declining heart? A declining heart is a heart that pulls an individual from their state of correctness. It causes the individual to move downward and become less than who they really are. As the heart declines there is a continual loss of strength and purpose. Among all forms of destruction the declining heart is among the worst because its source of corruption is found within. There is no one to blame. There is no other who can take responsibility except the one who has the heart. What ever the declining heart has is gradually lost. The progress made turns into digression. The standards it established are lowered. Instead of advancing and moving ahead it gets worse and becomes less.