“My master has withheld nothing from me except you because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 19:9)

Potiphar’s wife, a vibrant woman left home too often by an important husband. She got the leftovers of his energy after he had given his best to those who paid his salary. Feeling unsatisfied, she was attracted to someone new, young and good-looking- someone who reminded her that something was missing in her life.

Infidelity can happen to any couple – even those devoted to spiritual pursuits. For God has made us fully human and fully alive, and we often feel it most in our sexuality.

How does a couple deal with sexual temptations?

1. Develop a healthy self-awareness and a clear sense of moral boundaries. Joseph knew who he was and what his place was in Egyptian society. Potiphar’s wife, on the other hand, helped herself to whatever she wanted, regardless of whether it was right or wrong.
2. Have an exit strategy for situations that seem overpowering. Be like Joseph, who knew when to get out of a morally suspect position. Potiphar’s wife made Joseph’s life miserable after he resisted her, but imprisonment was nothing compared to the spiritual cost of an affair.
3. Don’t deny vulnerability. We are all prey to temptation. So talk to your spouse about problems such as overwork, loneliness and time with others before they become excuses for an affair. Build a wall of protection around your relationship before you begin to drift apart.

LET’S TALK

• When do you feel vulnerable and attracted to others?
• Other than each other, who are closest friends? In what ways are these people helpful to our marriage? In what ways are they not?
• How can we build inner strength to deal with those times when our emotions beg us to seek comfort in others?

May this devotion help us in safeguarding our marriage.