Faithful Love in a World of Temptation
During my time as a marriage and family therapist, I often dealt with couples where there was either an over-valuing of the importance of sex or an under-valuing of the importance of sex in the relationship. In scripture we find many places where we see that marital sexuality is a gift from God that is both for enjoyment and for strengthening the intimacy of a married couple.
In Proverbs 5, the reader is called to be attentive to the wisdom about to be dispensed. This sounds like someone who knows that guardrails are needed when it comes to our sexual impulses and desires. Solomon calls us to be attentive to his wisdom because the seduction of the forbidden is very strong.
The text of this chapter may be written from a father to a son, but we certainly understand that that women and men are susceptible to sexual temptations. Back in the therapy room, I saw the pain and disruption to marriages and to families due to infidelity. In the 23 verses of Proverbs 5, we read the warning of not giving into the lure of sexual temptation. We also must consider that if we have chosen to follow Jesus, then we also don’t need to go looking for opportunities that might lead to adultery.
Solomon advises married couples to pursue and enjoy each other rather than looking for pleasure in the wrong places. If you are struggling with sexual temptation, it is important to seek the support of godly friends who are grounded in their faith who can both advise and help create accountability for you that can assist in preventing a destructive mistake. The pain of adultery runs deep and wide, impacting spouses, children, grandchildren, parents, friends, and the church.
While the warnings and guidance of Proverbs can be helpful in avoiding these temptations, there are many places in scripture that remind us that we can be forgiven and restored. Restoration after adultery is hard but possible. It is important to seek the help and support of a good marriage and family therapist if you have these issues in your past that haven’t been dealt with. Ignoring sexual sin will lead to bad outcomes.
Throughout the book of Proverbs and throughout all of scripture, we discover that our best defense against all temptation is to run from it and toward Jesus, who waits with open arms to receive us. Jesus died that we might be forgiven of all sins. When we surrender our lives to him, he gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach us, and heal us. Do not believe the lie that any particular sin disqualifies you from experiencing the grace and mercy of God.
Father, today we pray for those who are struggling with sexual temptation and sin. We ask that you give those who are struggling the courage to ask for help. Father, forgive us for times when we have acted with judgment rather than love toward those who are struggling in sexual sin. Guard our hearts, that we may not be tempted but may model a life of purity. Reignite marriages that have been harmed with your love and mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Proverbs 5:1-23 ESV
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