The First Desperate
Housewife
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"And it came to pass after these things, that his
master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, 'Lie with me.'" Genesis 39:7 (KJV)
I
admit it. I used to be a soap opera fan when I was a teenager. Lured by the
romance and drama, I assumed real life as an adult would play out in the same
fashion. Boy was I wrong! While there's plenty of drama in my life, romance is
something that has to be scheduled most of the time.
Real
life isn't like what we see on TV or read about in romance novels. In fact,
these images can be dangerous to both single and married people alike. When our
ideas about life leave us dissatisfied, we can easily be tempted to look at
other options. Soap operas, pornography and romance novels encourage risky
behavior that can lead to sin.
Often
married people convince themselves that just looking or dreaming about being
with someone other than their spouse is okay as long as they don't actually do
anything about it. Likewise, some single people feel that they can lust after
another as long as they remain "physically pure." Jesus said,
"'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already
committed adultery with her in his heart.'" (Matthew 5:28, NIV) That goes
for us gals, too.
I
imagine Potiphar's wife, referenced in today's key verse, could be described as
the "first desperate housewife." She didn't have TV to watch or a
romance novel to read. She had something in real life to fill her eyes and
mind: Joseph. He was the head workman in charge who conveniently lived in her
home and was pleasing to her sight. Unknown to Joseph, he was about to become
the prey of a desperate housewife.
This
Egyptian woman didn't happen to just notice Joseph one day and then on the spur
of the moment, ask Joseph to lie down with her. No. Our key verse tells us she
"cast her eyes upon Joseph." In other words, she watched him with her
eyes which led to sinful thoughts which gave way to action. With the lust in
her heart, she was daring and shameless in her sin.
How
do we keep from falling into such sin? Perhaps we should follow Job's example.
"'I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl [or
boy]'" (Job 31:1, NIV 1984). We too
have a great need and responsibility to make a covenant with our eyes to not
look at others with lust. Remember that children's song often sang in Sunday
school, "Be careful little eyes what you see? Oh, be careful little eyes
what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love. Oh, be careful
little eyes what you see."
We
can protect our eyes by choosing not to watch movies, pornography or TV shows
that glamorize sexuality and lead us into temptation. If we're married, we can
ask our husband to make a covenant with us and pray for each other asking God
to protect us from looking at others. And it'd be good to remember, the grass
is not always greener on the other side. I guarantee that guy doesn't clip his
toe nails regularly either.
I
realize we are human and make mistakes. No one is perfect this side of heaven.
That's why it's so important to be watchful. Another way to safe guard
ourselves is to commit to taking hold of any lustful thoughts and quickly cast
them out of our minds. Temptation is not a sin. It's when we dwell on the
temptation that we are led to sinful actions. Let's not be like Potiphar's
wife. Instead, let's ask God to give us pure "eyes" set on Him and if
we're married, set on the spouse we have.
Dear Lord, forgive me for where I have fallen short. I commit to You
today to take every lustful thought captive so that it doesn't lead me into
sin. May all my thoughts be pleasing to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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