Scripture to Read: 1 Corinthians 7:5–6
In a marriage relationship between a husband and wife, being intimate with each other is a precious gift from God. That precious gift should never be used as a weapon to control our spouse, to get revenge on our spouse, or to manipulate our spouse. God had Paul write this in 1 Corinthians 7:5–6: “Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, not of command.” From what God said through Paul, some thought that if a husband and wife practiced sexual abstinence that somehow that would make them more holy. God had Paul tell them that was just not true. We also must understand that the word for “deprive” is the same as the word “defraud” used in 1 Corinthians 6:8. So, God was clearly stating that when a husband or wife denies physical affection and sexual intimacy to their spouse, they are cheating them of the precious gift God gave to them as a couple. God does allow a husband and wife to willingly, by agreement, choose to abstain from sexual intimacy for a short time to devote themselves to fasting and prayer in order to deepen their intimacy with our Lord. But God warns that it should only be for a time, and then husband and wife must come together again in sexual intimacy so that Satan is not given a chance to tempt them.
Challenge & Application
Why should a husband and wife never use their sexual intimacy as a weapon?
How has God provided protection for a husband and wife when it comes to their sexual intimacy?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!