… 6and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.
The first reason to control our sexual desires is that this is God’s will; it pleases Him, as we just saw in 1 Thessalonians 4:1–5. Much has been written on the exact meaning of the word for “sexual immorality” used in verse 5. The Greek word is “porneia,” from which we get our word “pornography.” This word is in common use today and needs little explanation. Its ubiquity renders former sexual imageries, skimpy fashions, and illicit behaviors to be rather tame by comparison. What was once scandalous is now acceptable, or at least not “hardcore.” As long, we are told, as our enjoyment of sex doesn’t hurt anyone else, then it is acceptable. Hardly should anyone call it sin, right? Wrong!
There is a second reason against sexual immorality: it is an offense or sin against others involved. Infidelity involves unfaithfulness to the married partner, a betrayal of trust. For singles, sex outside of marriage very easily becomes sex with someone else’s future spouse. Even if that is one’s own future spouse, sex before marriage breeds mistrust after marriage, for one’s urges have proven to take precedence over one’s self-control. How could you be sure your spouse will remain faithful to you after marriage if he or she lacked self-control before? There is no innocent party in sexual immorality. Even in pornography, the private gratification through sexual images 1) supports an industry that objectifies the human body and often shames women (and men) who sacrifice the dignity of their bodies for a few dollars, 2) encourages an industry that ensnares women to the lustful pleasures of men, and 3) reduces sex to a private, isolated affair that saps a person’s spiritual vitality with God and with others. In other words, the person who engages in sexual immorality wastes time in gratifying the self rather than in serving God and others with his or her whole being.
Interestingly, we are encouraged to “know how to possess [our] own vessel in sanctification and honor.” Sexual temptation is one of the most challenging things to resist; it is everywhere in our face. Resistance doesn’t come easily. The consequences are so serious that God avenges the hurt we cause others. So we need to take the conversation about sexual temptation out of the church closet and learn to talk about it, confess it, encourage one another, and if necessary, seek professional or pastoral help in overcoming it. This is God’s will for us. He is quite serious about it!
Lord, help me resist sexual immorality in whatever form it takes.
Thank you Sir. This was a really good and helpful read. God bless you!