Proverbs 9:17

 The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about sin’s guilt:

Proverbs 9:17

“Stolen water is sweet;

And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Folly has such charm.   Like Wisdom she sits along side of or proverbial journey and calls out to us.  That is where the similarity between wisdom and folly ends, however.  Wisdom seeks to convey truth, no matter how brutal and blunt it may be.   However, Lady Folly is not so.  She attempts to cover up the stink with the sweet.  She tries to put lipstick on a pig and calling something other than the swine that it is.   She tells those who pass by that stolen water is somehow sweeter than earned and deserved water.   Bread, eaten in secret (symbolizing something deceitfully obtained) is pleasant.   However, Folly seldom mentions guilt, shame and the destruction of reputations from those who do such things.   She tells us the candy bar, shoplifted from the grocer's shelf, taste great after you leave the store.  However, she fails to tell the bitter aftertaste.  She doesn't tell you what happens when your mom finds out (not that I would know about any of this from a first hand experience ...).   Folly makes it all sound great.   But, her lies are quickly discovered.  Her empty and vain tricks are too quickly exposed to those who fall into them.  Stolen water taste stolen.  Bread in secret like bread in secret.  They come with guilt, fear, regret, etc.  Don't follow her lies and remember she is very, very charming.