Let every man have his own wife

Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. – 1 Corinthians 7v2

As mentioned here in the last few weeks Mary and I have just celebrated thirty wonderful years of marriage. At the moment we are away for a few days in the beautiful northwest of Ireland.

As I read for today’s thoughts something we said to each other those thirty years ago came to mind. As a part of wedding vows to “have and to hold…till death do us part.” Surely, whoever wrote those vows had this passage in mind. Because we are sexual beings the flesh is going to struggle. Obviously it has been a battle since the word of God addresses it so often.

Here God gives a key to avoiding sexual immorality. Let a man have his wife and a wife have her husband. Clearly there is a physical aspect, and that is primary. But I think there is more. For a couple to stay faithful there must be an absolute commitment to “have” each other exclusively and in every way. We must have each other not only physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and in every other way. Our spouses must never feel like they must vie for our affection with nay other person in any way whatsoever.

It is amazing that in a day with books, seminars, video presentations and lectures series the key to purity is so simple. It starts with the age old promise to have and to hold.

We had better make sure that every day, every moment, and in every way we must have our spouses and they must have us.