Devotionals

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The subject of this week’s devotional is sex. I was going to make that the title, but I didn’t want these to sell out too quickly. I was going to address this topic later, but, well, I just couldn’t wait.
If anything is considered the catalyst for happiness today, it’s sex. It is portrayed and pushed in music, television, movies, radio, advertising, psychobabble, advice columns—just about every-where. In fact, sexual activity rarely needs to be promoted—it is pretty much taken for granted these days.
Many people think Christianity is somehow adverse to the physical relationship. This is very far from the truth! The Bible encourages, and even commands, sexual activity—within marriage!
Therein lies the difference between the world and the Word. The world teaches that sexual activity between consenting adults (and even children) is perfectly proper, even expected. It’s hard to find a virgin, either on TV or in real life, who isn’t the brunt of jokes and putdowns. If one is not sexually active, one must have problems. This, too, is very far from the truth! This is why God com-mands abstinence outside of marriage.
Think of what the world would be like with 100% abstinence. There would be virtually no STDs, few unwanted pregnancies (and resultant abortions!), no homosexuality or “civil unions,” no unwed mothers, far less heartbreak and betrayal, no adultery, no pornography, far less divorce, no rape, and on it goes. I think you get the point. What is so bad about eliminating the psychological and societal ills that sex outside of marriage fosters?
God designed sex for one man and woman. The first institution He ordained was marriage between Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:19-25). In a very short time, mankind corrupted the institution with polygamy, sodomy, prostitution, and divorce. Family issues will be covered in a later devotional, but for now, we will concentrate on premarital sex.
There is no question that forced sex is wrong; few would argue that. But the “consenting adults” criteria by itself is certainly fallacious. This does not add much value to the act. It may be consid-ered a wonderful expression of love, but only within marriage.
“If you love me, you’ll do it.” How many of us have heard that or said it? Truth is, if I love you, and we’re not married, I won’t ask you to do it. In fact, if I have any respect for you at all, I won’t put us in a position of temptation. When a man or woman is in a situation where the boss or coworker or friend is making suggestive remarks, it’s time to move on.
What about the couple that is living together? Well, if he or she doesn’t think you are worth the commitment, there is the assumption that it may not work out anyway, so why give your most inti-mate gift to that person? In fact, decades of research consistently prove that cohabitation leads to greater unhappiness and risk of divorce. One of many such studies can be found at: marriageand-families.byu.edu/issues/2001/January/cohabitation.htm.
Neil Sedaka sang, “Breaking up is hard to do.” It is much harder to break up a relationship with a high content of physical intimacy. The scars can last for years and years. Partners can feel used and abused after surrendering their most valued possession: their purity. Discernment often flies out the window, because “A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet” (Proverbs 27:7).
Love and sex are often transposed as equals. They are surely not the same. Lonely people are vulnerable to sexual advances, and even may seek them out, thinking they are finding love. Love is forever, unlike the one night stand or casual affair.
Sex has two purposes: pleasure and procreation, within monogamous, heterosexual marriage. “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth” (Proverbs 5:18). “Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth” (Malachi 2:15). “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Hebrews 13:4). “Do not deprive each other ex-cept by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control” (1 Corinthians 7:5). True love waits, then—watch out!

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