Emotional Adultery – Proverbs 5:15-20
I often say that people do not “run on empty”. That is, something is going to fill you up and keep you going. If not, then you’re probably in an extremely depressed state and you have given up on all hope.
All that being said, the same is true with your marriage. If your husband or wife is not filling that relational void that we all have, then something or someone else will soon become a substitute (and a poor one at that).
Many couples, after the newness of marriage wears off, start to turn to their children, their jobs, their careers, grandchildren, members of the opposite sex, and hobbies for emotional and mental fulfillment. Though all of these things have a place in our lives, they are never to replace the spot that your spouse should be taking in your heart and mind.
Proverbs 5:15 and 17 says:
“Drink waters out of thine own cistern [a container for holding water], and running waters out of thine own well . . . Let them be only thine own, and not a strangers’ with thee.”
If you study the passage, you will find that this verse is dealing directly with marriage. This passage is teaching the concept of monogamy within a marriage. However, it is not just addressing physical monogamy, but also emotional monogamy. The entire passage is teaching that marriage is to be the most satisfying relationship that we have with another human being on earth, and we are never to look to other things and people to substitute the spot in our hearts that our husband or wife should be taking.
Unfortunately, many men seem to have more emotional intimacy with their hunting or golf buddies than they do their wives. Many women feel safer sharing their feelings with their co-workers and friends than they do their husbands. This is not the way God designed marriage to be. I call this, by the way, emotional adultery. It is a dangerous spot for couples to be in, and, often times, leads to the real thing.
Where are you at in your marriage? Have your hopes for a fulfilling relationship with your spouse been dashed against the rocks of conflict? Have your dreams of having a happy, lifelong relationship with your husband or wife turned into one continuous nightmare? Feeling like your just surviving instead of thriving in your marriage by replacing the spot of your spouse with other things and people?
We encourage you to take the appropriate steps to lift your relationship up to the next level. You may start by Ordering our Audio Cd Series, How to Break the Cycle of Resentment in Your Marriage. We are extremely excited about the great results that we continually see from couples following our Proven, 2-Step Process . Click Here for ordering info.
Watch this Short Video to See if Your Marriage May be Caught in the Cycle of Resentment and Anger
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