Human Sexuality

Today’s Bible Reading:  Joshua 12-14; 1 Corinthians 7

Topic: Marriage

SCRIPTURE:  1 Corinthians 7:2-5

¹ … Yes, it is good to live a celibate life.  ² But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

³ The husband should fulfill his wife's sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband's needs. ⁴ The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

⁵ Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won't be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control. (1 Cor 7:2-6 NLT).

OBSERVATION:

Paul was fully devoted to the Lord’s service. In his personal experience he had determined that marriage would be a distraction and a detraction from his ability to give himself wholly to serving the Lord (see v.7 and vv. 32-34). However, he concedes that not everyone is gifted in the same way that he is (v. 7), and that the sexual drive is strong in men and women. So, in order to avoid the inevitable “immorality” of men and women satisfying their sexual urges outside of marriage, Paul clearly addresses the bounds within which, and only within which, sexual satisfaction is to be enjoyed: “each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband” (v. 2). It is the husband’s duty to satisfy his wife sexually, and it is the wife’s duty likewise to fulfill her husband’s sexual needs. In marriage their bodies are one and belong to each other.  

APPLICATION:

Today’s American society and Western Civilization at large really understands and embraces the truth that the human sexual drive is strong. Satisfying those urges is seen as a given that cannot and should not be expected to be suppressed. Self control, when it comes to human sexuality, is seen as nearly impossible and those who do choose to exercise restraint outside of marriage are ridiculed as abnormal. Young males and females who have reached puberty are generally given permission and even encouragement by society to engage in sexual intercourse and to practice sexual experimentation with the only admonition being to practice “safe” sex. However, by so doing, I contend that we have lowered and weakened ourselves. We have denied our God-given ability to live nobler—to rise above mere physicality—to live on a higher spiritual plane.

Yes, the sexual impulse is powerful. It has been created to be so. As a society we would be foolish not to acknowledge this. In our culture we have perhaps developed an idea of adolescence that is too long (roughly between the ages of 13 and 21); that’s eight years of sexual suppression before being considered an adult. But is the answer to therefore teach sexual liberality at the expense of teaching our children that a higher and nobler existence and relationship with their Creator is possible—that self control is not only possible, but healthier both physically and spiritually? I believe that children and adults alike will be healthier, happier and enjoy a more fulfilling existence when we aspire to be self disciplined rather than self satisfying. I believe in this way the sexual union of a husband and wife rises far above the satisfaction of physical orgasm to a level of combined physical and spiritual fulfillment that may only be realized by both parties when they know God’s blessing is upon it.

PRAYER:

Lord forgive us of the arrogance of presuming that we are the arbiters of morality rather than You. Forgive us for erecting standards of behavior based on our weaknesses rather than the strength You can give us. Grant me wisdom to share spiritual truth to a world that denies spiritual reality—that understands only the physical and the intellectual. I confess my inadequacy and humbly implore Your intervention and enlightenment to break through to the souls of men and women who seek the truth but are living with impaired spiritual eyes and ears. In the name of and in the power of Christ Jesus I pray for my human family. Amen.  -AP