Clipart from clipartheaven.com
Temptation is everywhere. We can be tempted in any area at any time. Since I got married, I purposely have limited my interaction with men out of respect for my marriage and my husband and as a means to stave off any possible temptation or awkward situation. Because of this I was a little concerned when we got stationed at a small military installation in Europe last year. Being part of a male-dominated military community was new to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect.
What I have found is that my husband’s character has served to protect me from advances by men within our community. Now, I am not saying that I am so desirable that all men should be clamoring after me… I am saying that the heart is wicked, so I am not surprised by sin, and even anticipate it, no matter how irrational and immoral it may be.
My husband Sean is a loudJ , friendly man who loves to talk to anyone about the Lord. Within one minute of talking to him, you know where he stands regarding Jesus Christ. He respects others and strives to walk in integrity in all that he does. It is because of this that he has great relationships with most everyone he meets. My husband’s bold profession of his faith and love for the Lord lets other men know that he has a mighty, indomitable force behind him. You don’t want to mess with him or his family and suffer God’s wrath!
Sean speaks glowingly of me and our children constantly. This lets other men know that his family life is his priority and intact. His wife is valuable to him and not to be trifled with. He is not some aloof husband who is more focused on himself and fails to prioritize his wife and family (after the Lord, of course). It is such a man’s wife that other men may feel they need to “rescue”. In my case, Sean makes it clear to anyone who will listen that he loves me and values me and that his house is “in order”.
Sean also garners the respect of his peers, superiors and even people on the street! I have marveled at his ability to engage most anyone in God-honoring conversation. I often tell him that God uses him to impact so many people and he doesn’t even realize it. Countless times, people -- some strangers -- have approached me and told me to tell Sean “thank you” for something he said to them that touched them. Most people won’t cross the line with a man they respect. That respect often flows over into how they interact with that man’s family as well. I believe many people respect me because they respect Sean.
There is comfort for a wife in this type of protection. Many of my concerns have been laid to rest because my husband is who he is. It is my prayer that all husbands realize the importance of providing the protection of their character to their wives. In Christ, Talya
Nov. 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
very good post. your testimony of having a faithful husband is a blessing. i pray the Lord grant you both many more years of marital fidelity and contentment. although the main gist of your post is about how your husbands stellar character protects you as a wife, i wanted to touch on a different aspect that you mentioned.
i was thinking about what you said about limiting your interaction with men as a buffer to keep temptation to a minimal. i think this is a wise choice since being a married believer doesn't lessen the chance for committing adultery. as long as we're wrapped in this flesh, the possibility still looms. this is an interesting topic to me because as believers, my husband and i do talk to members of the opposite sex, and often times, in each other's absence. it has never been an issue with us. i know this isn't the case with a lot of the saints. i remember the time we were fellowshipping with a particular congregation and i was talking to one of the brothers after service- well, his wife and a number of the rest of the congregation gathered around for the duration of the conversation. (we were in front of the building in PUBLIC VIEW just discussing various genres of christian music). there was nothing inappropiate or unseemly about any of it. i didn't know then, that they, as a congregation, didn't believe in opposite sex conversations without your spouse, or other witnesses present. (it was a small Church, about 20-30 people and somewhat clannish- my husband and i and our children were the outsiders since we recently hooked up with them while in search of a Church to fellowship with) the majority of them had been with the pastor ever since he started Bible studies in his livingroom. dee (my hubby) and i thought it was a bit paranoid to have to always have someone "watching over you" every time you started talking to someone. they used Rom. 14:16, and 1 Thess. 5:22 as their reasons for this kind of behavior. while i earnestly feel we ought to be mindful that we govern ourselves in a manner that is above reproach, i also dont believe i need to have my husband around while i engage in conversation with the brethren. we both earnestly believe that the presence and conviction of the Holy Spirit should move us to purity, or else we will always need a chaperone to make sure nothing happens. please don't misunderstand me, i don't see anything wrong with couples who stay on guard by having their spouses around and within earshot of them while they're interacting with the opposite sex; after all, i do realize that the war with the flesh is constantly waging, and when i would do good- evil is present.
blessings to you
angela