As Proverbs offers us insights about wisdom in everyday life, it's not surprising to hear something about marriage, or at least about faithfulness in marriage.

What's tough about today's verses is that they sound so negative. The prominent message seems less about building a good marriage than about pointing out the dangers of wrecking one through adultery. And the words are strong and consistent: don't go outside the boundaries of what God has set. Don't flirt with behaviors that move you in that direction.

This message is just as important today as when it was first written. There is a reason why advertisers appeal to sexuality to sell their products. Not only does it fascinate, but the excitement and intimacy attached to sex are naturally appealing. By God's design, we long for intimacy. But in the end we get burned if we look for it in ways that cannot deliver. And nowhere is that more important than when it comes to marriage and family, because when trust is broken there, the damage often cannot be repaired.

These words aren't just for married people. They are for everyone, because wise family life is more than just avoiding adultery. It's about doing all we can to protect God's intention for family. And that takes a community.