Ending Online Inappropriate Relationships - Thursday Throwback Treasure

A friend sent me this post by Karen Ehman, We Need More Spotters.  The premise of the article is that we need community that includes people (spotters) who are willing to tell us when they see us pursuing relationships that could put our marriages in danger.  My friend is a women's ministry leader and she commented, "We need to keep telling women the truth of scripture when it comes to fidelity and marriage."  I immediately thought about several relationships where a well timed comment might have saved a husband or wife from entering an inappropriate relationship that created havoc in their marriages.

 Counter scriptural messages bombard us from every corner, even suggesting that dressing in anticipation of seeing that hunk of a gardener is just plain fun, and totally innocent (See the post by Sharon Jaynes, blogger for Girlfriends in God posted in Can You Love Your Husband and Brad Pitt, too?)
As I read these blog posts I thought of some of my own attempts to encourage women to guard their hearts and resist the pull of social media to interact without caution with men who belong to other women.  After posting one of these pieces, a young woman thanked me because she was ready to meet up with an old boyfriend, unbeknownst to her husband.  Thankfully, God used that post as a"spotter" that helped her see how seemingly innocent online flirting had led her to almost make a choice that could have devastated her husband and marriage.  So, in keeping with the challenge to be a "spotter" and in the context of "throwback Thursday" perhaps this post will warn another woman that she's on thin ice and it's time to pull up the welcome mat.

Ending Online Inappropriate Relationships

Imagine that as you turn to leave your friend's bedroom after putting your coat on her bed, you notice a beautiful pin on her dresser. "Aha!" you think. "That's exactly what I've been looking for to go with my new outfit for Saturday's party. I'll just borrow it and then return it later. She has so much jewelry, she won't miss it." You slip the pin into your pocket but never ask for your friend's permission to wear it. The pin completes your outfit and you procrastinate giving it back because you enjoy the compliments you receive while wearing it. Months later you run into your friend at a party. Your smile freezes when she exclaims, "Where did you get that pin? My husband gave me one just like it but told me it was unique, that no one else has one like it but yours is an exact match... I've been so upset because I can't find it. He's really disappointed, too."

Slowly your friend realizes that the pin you're wearing is hers. You hand it back and know by the look in her eyes that your friendship is probably over. Instead of admitting your sin and apologizing, you rationalize away your guilt and conclude that she's selfish. You think, "It wasn't like I was going to keep it - she has so much. What's the big deal!"

Of course, this scenario is silly. Yet, how many women meet appropriate emotional needs inappropriately by "borrowing" another woman's husband? And how many rationalize their behavior by saying, "I'm not trying to have an affair. Her husband just understands me so much better than mine. I'm not trying to steal him from her. She has so much......what's the big deal?" [[More - Ending Online Inappropriate Relationships]

In His grip - 

Sharon

If you or a friend is struggling with adultery, listen to this encouraging message:

Adultery - Forgiveness and Redemption