To deprive eachother by mutual consent? (1 Corinthians 7:5)

[Hall7]

Yes true, we all go through stages of weakness and strength of our faith in life.

[Ezra]

The part I have a hard time understanding in 1 Corinthians 7:5 is this:  "Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

When you take the entire context into account (verses 1-5) what Paul is saying is that marriage allows a man and woman to lawfully have sexual relations, and that they are not to deprive each other of that intimacy other than for limited periods of prayer and fasting.  But there are husbands and wives who withhold sex from each other for prolonged periods (for a variety of reasons), and Satan can use that to cause the one who feels deprived to look outside marriage for fulfillment.

[Hall7]

 

The part I have a hard time understanding in 1 Corinthians 7:5 is this:  "Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

When you take the entire context into account (verses 1-5) what Paul is saying is that marriage allows a man and woman to lawfully have sexual relations, and that they are not to deprive each other of that intimacy other than for limited periods of prayer and fasting.  But there are husbands and wives who withhold sex from each other for prolonged periods (for a variety of reasons), and Satan can use that to cause the one who feels deprived to look outside marriage for fulfillment.

Thank you Ezra. So would you agree that if we don't deprive ourselves of sexual relations for a time in order to spend some time with God that it can affect a close relationship with Him, such as becoming lukewarm in His Spirit?  The weakness of the flesh is a sad dilemma. 

[Hall7]

It makes me wonder if angels have to deal with this human dilemma also even though they aren't human. They did disobey God a long time ago, when they had relations with women of this earth. 

[Deborah_]

Thank you for your replies, you pretty much cleared it up for me. Although I don't see how any devoted Christian can be tempted by the devil to the point of cheating on his/her spouse when marriage is a gift from God. I think companionship is more important than intimacy and that marriage is more directed to have someone to spend the rest of our lives with. Desires of the flesh can be controled but there is nothing worse than loneliness...

Do you maybe have a lower-than-average sex drive? Not something to be ashamed of (we are all different), but be aware that for many Christians sexual temptations are a real problem and it is sadly the case that married Christians do sometimes commit adultery.

I hope that you are communicating well with your wife in this area. Does she share your feelings, or is she feeling disappointed and frustrated by your apparent lack of interest? It is very unusual for the two partners in a marriage to have exactly the same sex drive, and you do need to be sensitive to each other. 

Sexual delight is an essential component of marriage (Proverbs 5:18,19). If the romantic and erotic elements of the relationship are neglected, human passion will be tempted to seek other outlets.

Finally, I do not believe that sex within marriage is 'unspiritual' or hinders our relationship with God, any more than eating a good meal does. Sometimes it is helpful to abstain from sex just as we sometimes abstain from food, in order to concentrate our spiritual energies, but this is a 'fast' and shouldn't be allowed to become the normal state of affairs.

[Hall7]

Both of our drives are normal and perfectly balanced for eachother Deborah. 

[Hall7]

The closer we become to God the less we prioritize what the flesh and mind desires.

[Ezra]

The part I have a hard time understanding in 1 Corinthians 7:5 is this:  "Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control."

When you take the entire context into account (verses 1-5) what Paul is saying is that marriage allows a man and woman to lawfully have sexual relations, and that they are not to deprive each other of that intimacy other than for limited periods of prayer and fasting.  But there are husbands and wives who withhold sex from each other for prolonged periods (for a variety of reasons), and Satan can use that to cause the one who feels deprived to look outside marriage for fulfillment.

Thank you Ezra. So would you agree that if we don't deprive ourselves of sexual relations for a time in order to spend some time with God that it can affect a close relationship with Him, such as becoming lukewarm in His Spirit?  The weakness of the flesh is a sad dilemma. 

Hall7,

Maintaining a close relationship with the Lord is the Christian's first priority.  What the Holy Spirit is teaching married Christians here is to ensure that they do not neglect their spouses by prolonged periods of abstinence. Again, spiritual Christians will be guided by the Holy Spirit to make even those decisions, and a healthy sexual relationship does not preclude a strong relationship with Christ, if both spouses are committed Christians. Sexuality is from God therefore "marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled" (Heb 13:4).

[Hall7]

I understand that Ezra but we still have to deprive ourselves by mutual consent and for a time, so that we may devote ourselves to prayer.

[AllTheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Wow, you must spend a lot of time on both!