Proverbs 27: 8 “Like a bird that strays from its nest, is a man who strays from his home.”    This verse is about a man’s integrity, character, vows made to God and spouse, obedience and faithfulness to God’s Word and his walk with Christ.  Perseverance and being a one woman kind of man are added commitments required to not stray from the marriage and home God gives a man.  The word stray means to deviate or move away aimlessly from a proper path or place or to go beyond the proper limits. Guardrails are placed on dangerous curves in the road/path to keep us from straying over cliffs.  Our verse today is one of those guardrails.  The temptations to stray in our culture are greater today than ever before.  Unfortunately, there are more willing partners, co-workers and peer examples outside his home nest to cunningly and deceptively temp a man to stray. 

What happens to a bird that strays from its nest?  It opens the door for injury and death from prowling enemies which are lurking outside the nest.  It allows enemies to ruin the home relationships and marriage.  Children like small birds are often the casualties and I grieve for so many children that I personally know struggle after their parents tear up the family nest.  But, the Christian man and leader should always heed God’s Word to not stray but to keep the home fires burning and the home nest pure and committed.  That is the way God intended for us to lead our lives and families.  Remember to stray is to go beyond God’s proper limits and you do not want to run off the road and over a cliff.