Proverbs 5 - God Ponders our ways?

Well, this chapter is mostly about avoiding the snare of adultery. I suppose most college students would say "well, I'm not married" and just tune this out. However, as we've seen with other passages that seem to be written to someone else, there is still significant application here.

I've found that people who live a certain way before marriage essentially live the same way after marriage. In other words, if you've established certain habits and ways and attitudes now that are healthy, you'll probably continue them and have a healthy marriage. Conversely, bad ways don't magically change once you walk up the aisle to the altar and marry.

I remember when I was dating (before I was married, of course!) I settled into an understanding. I would never date someone who I couldn't imagine being married to, and once in a dating relationship if it seemed that I couldn't be married to them, it was time to cut things off. In fact, the way I hinted to Ann that engagement was nearing, I said "I think if things keep going the way they are going, a ring might be in the near future!" She told me that was the best thing I could have said to her right then and there!

So, the short of it is: develop good attitudes and life choices now, and with God's grace, they will carry over into your future marriage.

Now, one verse that sticks out is verse 21: "For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths." Did you ever think that God actually takes time to ponder our ways? That just amazes me. Here is the infinite, all-powerful, almighty God considering what I'm doing. All I can do when I think of this is to praise Him and be sure that I'm living in such a way that's obedient to his Word and pleasing to Him.

What do you think?