Do not give your strength to women, Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
In this section King Lemuel is giving us instruction from his mother. She gives a list of instructions for her son to make him a strong leader. In verse three we read that if a man can't control his passions he is not fit to lead others. Mom warns him about the needless waste of giving himself in passionate lust to women, who only steal his strength and destroy his leadership. Kings in this day, as with many in power in our society, can surrond themselves with lusts and passions, pleasing only themselves. Their "strength" (which could mean physical strength, mental strength, time and energy strength, etc.) can be lost on such pursuits of meeting lustful desires. Strong leaders, Kings, are to be warned and avoid the passions of the flesh. Many kings throughout Scripture, and in our daily news reports, have been brought down by passionate lusts for women. Lemuel may think he is immune to these temptations, but mother knows best. As a women she has a unique perspective to speak to her son in this manner. Most women leave the instruction of suce topics up to dear old dad. Maybe Lemuel had no dad, or mom was just the more assertive in the parental role. Never-the-less, mom knows women and she knows men. She warns her son if he wants to be a strong king don't give his strength to weak pursuits.
Do not give your strength to women or your ways to that which destroys kings (Proverbs 31:3). Lemuel gave some great advice to all leaders. Don't give yourself to those who will ultimately hurt you. Isn't it interesting how many great leaders have fallen from their place of influence because of one night of sin? Lemuel tells us to beware of that it is possible to give away the very thing that makes you strong. It is interesting that he calls this “our strength.” We are to be careful to not give away what God has given us and to be careful to not allow ourselves to be destroyed. Yes, God will take care of us, but we have a duty to not give away things God intended us to keep.
We might think of King David as an example of someone who failed to protect his “strength.” He was supposed to be leading his army to war. Instead he stayed how and committed adultery. His “strength” was destroyed both as a commander of the army and the leader of a nation. Many strong men have been laid waste by this type of folly:
Proverbs 7:24-27 (ESV)
And now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,
for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.
Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
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