"Desire fulfilled is sweet to the taste, but to turn from evil is an abomination to fools."
Proverbs 13:19
At first glance, this seems an odd contrast. Usually when these opposites come up, the connection is obvious to me. Here, not so much. As at times before, my first thought was one of wonder - what in the world does that mean?
Then, different from other times reading this same verse, the Lord answered my query. He gave new insight into its meaning and how it applies to the life of the believer compared to the unbeliever.
Desire fulfilled. It truly is sweet to the taste. There's something about finally achieving what you've been striving for that gives satisfaction and pleasure in the deep places of your heart. It feels good. Maybe previously I thought of this "fulfilling of desire" only in a positive way - as something good one pursues and accomplishes. It is possible that's the case. However, the picture of desire in this verse could also represent sin or at least the temptation to sin. Because, let's face it, when I am tempted to something "sweet," fulfilling that desire and giving into that temptation really is sweet to the taste - for a while. But it's only temporary satisfaction. Eventually I want more. It's the water that never quenches my thirst. Sin does that to us. It wrecks our hearts by convincing us that what we're after will satisfy when it doesn't. It deceives us and leads us down into death and destruction. And it is merciless in its pursuit of us.
I'm reminded of the temptation of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3. “Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” They were led into temptation for something that seemed desirable. Maybe even that first bite was the sweetest, juiciest fruit they had ever tasted. But as soon as that bite was taken, it turned bitter in their mouths. They realized their nakedness. They broke the command of God and, as a result, their relationship with God. They brought the evil of sin into this world.
The same thing happens with me. Something looks or feels good. I'm tempted. I give in. And I immediately regret it. Why? Because the sin promises something it can never give - true satisfaction. That's a satisfaction that can only be found in Christ. God created us for worship. He created us for communion with Himself. Anything sinful that we are tempted to do makes us the offer of fulfilling that desire in our hearts, but in actuality only gives a cheap replica. It's luster fades away. It's sweetness turns bitter. We're left disappointed yet, like addicts, wanting more. Only when I turn, through Christ and in the power of the Spirit, to the love of the Father do I find the satisfaction I'm longing for. Only when I place God on the altar of my heart, determined to worship Him and Him alone, does that desire find its ultimate fulfillment. Only when I reject what seems desirable do I begin to find in God the true object and satisfier of my desires.
"...but to turn from evil is an abomination to fools." Herein lies the difference between believers and everyone else. For me to suggest this process of rejecting what seems desirable is foolish to the people of this world. They say, "Why deny yourself?" "The heart wants what the heart wants." "You were born this way." Of course, there is an element of truth in these statements. The devil most easily convinces us to believe lies when they're laced with truth. We were born this way, with these sin-wrecked hearts. But Jeremiah reminds us that our unredeemed hearts want only that which is sinful. They are deceitful above all else. They convince us that our desires and longings are to be pursued above any and everything else. So, of course, to suggest turning from something "desirable" that is harmful and sinful is "an abomination to fools." Fools are those who reject reproof and correction. They are those who do not seek wisdom and understanding. They are those who do not fear the Lord. Every unbeliever falls into the biblical category of "fool" and therefore turning from sin is anathema to them.
But for the believer, perhaps this is a mark of maturity. For a believer that has not yet graduated to a diet of meat, suggesting to him to turn from one sin or another, desirable though it may be, may also seem like an abomination to him. But the Holy Spirit works and moves and convicts. The Spirit reminds us of the truths of Scripture. He tells us, down inside, in deeper places than our flesh can dig, "This is wrong. This is sin. This is not how God intended it to be." And you know, in the deep places, when it's dark and quiet and no one is around, you know that He's right. You know that this or that area of your life is not in tune with how God would have it to be. The unbeliever, deaf and blind as he is, can reject these promptings. But the believer cannot resist the workings of the Spirit for long. He eventually repents of his sin and comes falling on his knees before the Father, asking for forgiveness and for the relationship to be restored.
So, the application is this: is there some sin, doggedly tempting me with its sweetness, from which I am refusing to turn? Is there some conviction I am foolishly rejecting?
Then, I must recognize it, confess it, and turn entirely away from it. And I can only do that in the strength of Christ. He is the one who comes and takes residence inside of me when I come to faith. He is the one who sent the Holy Spirit to be the constant encouragement and conviction in my heart. He is the one who died in the cross for my sins so that I could know a true relationship with the One True God who promises to satisfy every longing of my heart. Sin is only a facade. It promises but cannot deliver. God is the only true object and fulfiller of our desire. But don't take only my word for it."Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!" It's as if the Psalmist offers a challenge - try it out. See if the Lord really is as good as He says He is. The man taking refuge in the Lord is truly happy, and truly finds all his desires fulfilled.
If you believe already, repent and confess those sins that are keeping you from even deeper relationship with the Father. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Wisdom and intimacy with the Father are more important than stubbornness over sin.
If you do not yet believe, test Him. He fears no question and He fails no test. He truly satisfies any longing you could possibly have in greater ways than you could possibly imagine. Repent and believe! "You'll be more than sav'd from fire, when you - in God - find all desire."
