February 9 I Sunday

Leviticus 6-7

Matthew 25:1-30

“Marriage should be honoured by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.” —Hebrews 13:4

Sexual temptation has probably never been as big a battle in our lives as it is today. We are exposed to excessive, external stimuli all the time. When we turn on our television, watch media and look at advertisements, we are bombarded with sexual innuendos. The hedonistic philosophy of our day gives easy acceptance of illicit sexual activities; it is practiced by millions and criticized by almost nobody in our culture. If we are honest, as far as our culture is concerned, sex outside of marriage has become no big deal. The message our culture wholehearted affirms to us is, “if it feels good, do it.”

Pornography is massively available to people. There are more pornography stores in North America than there are McDonald’s restaurants. It is an alarming fact but one that is true. Even with a few simple clicks, pornography is readily available through the Internet. But one of the biggest problems with Internet pornography is its addictive nature because people do not know how to turn it off. While pornography can temporary satisfy the physical appetite, it does not satisfy anything “soulish” or spiritual. Even in our schools, sex education is taught focusing on biology, without teaching about the morality, purpose and meaning that is the framework in which sex is designed to be enjoyed.

According to Scripture, God designed sexual enjoyment to be in the context of marriage. Solomon writes, “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer––may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love” (Proverbs 5:18-19). Solomon explicitly tells us the proper, good, wholesome and God-pleasing place where sex is to be enjoyed is in marriage.

Although sexual fulfilment in marriage is a result of a good marriage, it is not the cause of it. In other words, sexual fulfilment is a symptom of a good marriage. When there is good physical, sexual relationship, it is because there is good “soulish” and spiritual relationship. This is why the coming together of a man and a woman in marriage is something deeper––the union of their soul and spirit. Our culture has corrupted the beautiful intention for union that God intended for sex in the confines of marriage.

For those who are married, may our fountains always be blessed with the spouse of our youth and may we love them more today than we did the day we made our vows. For those who are single, while it is sometimes difficult having sexual desires within us, may we see it as an opportunity to surrender everything into God’s hands.

Prayer: Beloved Father, thank You for creating sex and its enjoyment in marriage. Whether married or not, I ask that I honour You with my body and mind. Amen!