Marriage - 1.7 Sexual Temptation Oh

Marriage OH 1.7 8creen read version

What the OT Teaches about Marriage

Resisting Sexual Temptation: Genesis Chs. 39:6-8

Teaching about Resisting Sexual Temptation

•There are God-made boundaries in human affairs that must never be crossed “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

How one upright man refused to be seduced by a married woman for whose husband he worked Lessons in resisting temptation not only for (negatively)

 Resisting Seducers outside of marriage

•Some people can be particularly subject to temptation who are o In positions of prominence

but also for (positively)

“Joseph in charge”

 Maintaining Healthy Relationships inside and outside of Marriage

o In positions of great trust “Everything he owns he has entrusted to my care.”

The Incident of The Improper Suggestion of Potiphar’s Wife So Potiphar left in Joseph’s care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “come to bed with me!” But he refused. he told her, “With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; Everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No-one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”

o Blessed with good looks “Now Joseph was well built and handsome,”

•Familiarity with people at work can create situations of temptation. “after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph”

•The first step in dealing with temptation is to say “No!” “But he refused..”

•It is wise mentally to bring a third party into the situation he told her, “With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house…”

•It is tactful, rather than denouncing the tempter, to defend one‘s own integrity and the interests of others “ he told her, ‘With me in charge, my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; Everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No-one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me

except you, because you are his wife.’”

•Succumbing to sexual temptation destroys relationships as it betrays trust “Everything he owns he has entrusted to my care... My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing?”

•Faithfulness in every area of life gives strength to resist the temptations to be unfaithful in the area of extra-marital affairs

•It is wise to have good reasons against particular temptations, e.g. o o o o

Not to betray his master‘s confidence in him Not to spoil his relationship with his master Not to spoil the intimacy between husband and wife Not to sin against God The main lessons

 God has made boundaries in human affairs which we must never cross  Integrity in the face of temptation involves keeping in mind the certain consequences for others When facing sexual temptation bring into the situation a third party that would be affected if this temptation was not resisted

 Integrity in the face of temptation involves having good reasons for not complying before the temptation arises Saying “No!“ to temptation is easier if you can also say “Why Not”

 Learn to be faithful in small matters and you can resist the temptation to be unfaithful in larger matters Note: Just as a three-fold cord is not easily broken, so having several ways of resisting temptation

strengthens our resolve not to give in. If we rely on one defence alone (e.g. remembering that to give in is sinning) we are more likely to fall into temptation Application Healthy Relationships Outside and Inside of Marriage 1. Involve Others In situations of temptation bring in either physically or mentally the rightfully concerned parties: e.g. Spouse - Fiancée – Master - God 2. Be Accountable Never do, say, or think anything which you would not wish the rightfully concerned parties to know about 3. Rehearse Biblical Reasons for righteous behaviour Why the wrong behaviour is wicked and offends God as well as is evil and wrongs others The passage context tells why the righteous Joseph was thrown into prison. The immediate context following includes two additional examples of how to deal with sexual temptation

 Avoid being alone with a person of the opposite sex  Run away from those who would tempt you to sin