Fatal Attractions

During my years of ministry I have had three personal friends who have had inappropriate relationships with other women while they were in ministry.  This does not account for all the men that I know, this is just the men that were close friends to me in ministry.  If I were to consider my friends in general (non-pastors) it would be about 15-20.  Please know that there have also been many women friends who have cheated on their husbands.

Most of my brothers never thought of or intended to head down this trail.  The crazy thoughts of unfaithfulness typically started when they were not walking in  fellowship with God and when they allowed their relationships with their wives to begin to deteriorate.  Closeness to their spouse was no longer prioritized or guarded.  It was typically a slow fade and they began to justify harmless glances and inappropriate moments with other women as borderline faithfulness to their marriage covenant.  Solomon speaks about the strange woman, "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27)  Flirting with the temptation of unfaithfulness is the first step to one's demise.  Looking for a freshness that comes from another man or woman, who is not your spouse, is foolishness and brings destruction.  The price is always higher than one ever plans to pay.  It often sets a pattern for their own children to follow.

Solomon says, "Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go the house of a foreigner, and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed," (Proverbs 5:8-11).  Most marriages DO NOT survive this unfaithful act, nor do the families.  The thought that this sin would never be found out is foolishness.  Couples begin to betray one another when in their mind they think of another man or woman in place of their spouse.  The sinfulness of pornography stages the physical act to be followed through with a real person.

The encouragement from Solomon was, "Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well." (Proverbs 5:15).  In other words, your spouse ALONE should be the one who quenches all of your thirsts.  This means physically and emotionally.  They are to be the source that you return to over and over again.  There should be NO substitutes that you would allow to diminish your need for the one who God has united you with for life.  If you are being tempted to head down this trail--Please Return Now and don't go any further.  The cost is far too great!

Prayer:  "Father, please preserve the marriages of those who proclaim you as Savior and Lord of their lives.  May their families stand firm in the character of Your love.  Please build your church upon men and women of godly character who walk in faithfulness to you and to one another." Amen.