How can Christians guard their marriages against the temptation of adultery? The Command Stated and Settled “You shall not commit adultery.” (Deuteronomy 5:18) God’s word is clear, concise, and final. Adultery is never optional, excusable, or negotiable. Guarding Begins in the Heart “Everyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) • Guard the eyes—what enters by sight quickly settles in thought. • Guard the imagination—day-dreamed sin soon invites real-world opportunity. • Guard the affections—cultivate warmth toward your spouse; starve emotional ties elsewhere. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) Cultivating Marital Intimacy “Drink water from your own cistern… Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.” (Proverbs 5:15, 18) • Invest daily conversation—friendship fuels desire. • Schedule shared experiences—memories become marital mortar. • Prioritize physical closeness—“The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” (1 Corinthians 7:3) • Practice quick forgiveness—resentment withers intimacy. Establishing Protective Boundaries “But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality.” (Ephesians 5:3) • Private meetings with opposite sex? Keep doors open, windows clear, time limited. • Social media contacts? Transparency, joint passwords, no secret chats. • Entertainment choices? Refuse shows, music, or sites that normalize infidelity. • Self-talk? Replace “It’s harmless” with “Flee sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) “I have made a covenant with my eyes.” (Job 31:1) Pursuing Accountable Community “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) • Same-gender accountability partners—regular check-ins, honest disclosures. • Couple-to-couple friendships—shared meals, shared prayer, shared vigilance. • Church engagement—teaching and fellowship keep consciences tender. “Two are better than one… a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 12) Feeding the Spirit, Restraining the Flesh “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) • Daily Scripture reading—truth crowds out lies. • Consistent prayer—communion with God uproots hidden sin. • Worship and thanksgiving—adoration shifts focus from self to Savior. “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:9) Clinging to the Covenant “The LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth… she is your companion and your wife by covenant.” (Malachi 2:14) • Remember the vows—spoken before God, family, and church. • Recall the cost—Christ’s blood purchased holy marriages. “Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled.” (Hebrews 13:4) • Rest in God’s faithfulness—“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Guard the heart, cherish the spouse, embrace boundaries, lean on community, walk in the Spirit, and cling to the covenant—this is how believers honor Deuteronomy 5:18 and keep marriages free from adultery. |
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