September 24
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle of any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.” (2 Timothy 2:19-22)
- Relationships strained or broken, trust lost, friendships lost or at least tainted; marriages damaged or broken, intimacy lost.
Immorality has ruined many, many marriages. Pornography indulgence is often devastating to a relationship as well. Trust is lost, respect is lost, and confidence in the spouse who commits these sins is lost. And rightly so. How can a wife trust or respect her husband when he is willfully sinning against God and her, violating their sacred vows, lusting after other women and committing adultery with them in his heart, and disobeying the clear commandments of scripture? How can she trust a man who so willfully and greedily immerses himself in the works of those influenced by the devil?
Men who stumble in this way I am convinced have no clue what a valuable treasure they are throwing away, the treasure of an intimate, loving companion, the fellowship and trust of their truest friend on earth. They clearly are disobeying the commands of scripture to love their wives as Christ loved the church and to give their wives honor. They clearly are not giving their wives honor when they view them through the lens of porn, nor can they love them the way Christ loved the church. They are filled with lust, and lust is always focused on self; SELF that is the only object of affection for the lust-filled heart, and all those around that person suffer, especially those closest to him or her.
Will you throw away your marriage for the cheap and momentary high of immoral fantasies and the passing pleasures of the flesh? Do you think that you can sin against your spouse, commit adultery with another, and find any type of satisfaction in that or long lasting relationship with another person? Don’t be deceived, you destroy everyone when you commit adultery, starting with yourself, your wife, and the person with whom you commit adultery, and you make the probability of finding friendship and true love very low indeed.
Even if your relationship with your wife (or husband) is very poor, don’t lose hope, and don’t turn to pornography or any relationship outside your marriage. It will only get far, far worse. Commit yourself to your wife (or husband), and more importantly commit yourself to your Savior, Who can make all things new. Trust in Him, and flee from sin!