Beware! Danger Ahead
By Graham Roberts
Hi Matthew!
I’m sitting here thinking of that awesome farewell party we had for you eighteen months ago. It was an unforgettable evening!
What made it even more special was that you had just been offered that amazing I.T. job. We were so delighted – it was like a dream come true! Your graduation cum laude was well deserved, and your parents were so proud of you.
But now it looks like things have changed – and, I fear, not for the better. A couple of hours ago I awoke remembering the news we got yesterday from your big sister Elizabeth. That is why I’m up early writing this email.
Matt, my dear friend, my heart is profoundly troubled. I cannot believe that the Matt we knew, who was so alive spiritually during his university studies, is the same Matt who is now considering accepting the invitation of a beautiful colleague, a non-Christian woman, to live together.
Please tell me what is going on, Matt. Okay, it’s a struggle being the only Christian in your office. But you are a follower of Jesus. Because of God’s work within you, you are different and your lifestyle must also reflect your life in Christ.1 You cannot follow Jesus and at the same time follow the standards of the crowd, who do not know Him.2
May I speak ‘heart to heart’? Just imagine us sitting together in our living room sharing the struggles you’ve been going through – complete with a cup of your favourite coffee!
As a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are no longer in charge of your choices, your work or your relationships. You might have a sharp mind, an A-1 body, a lively personality and a good-paying job. But these aren’t your personal possessions, they are God’s.
If you forget this, Satan can turn your natural abilities into spiritual liabilities. Do you remember what I said the day before your graduation last year? ‘Above all, guard your heart lest the enemy puff you up with pride’.4 If that were to happen you would be vulnerable to all kinds of other dangers.
We had no idea then what would happen after you started this job. But we knew Satan’s ways – and that this great deceiver can devise cunning ways to tempt us. We knew that you must resist him,4 and that’s what you must do now.
No doubt the offer from your friend is attractive. But Satan loves to twist the good things of God, including our sexual passions, for destructive purposes. He wants to wreck your life!
There’s only one way to respond and that is to run for your life.5
This is exactly what the Old Testament character Joseph did when a woman of influence tried to entice him into bed with her.6
Like you, Joseph was a gifted, intelligent and good-looking young man. One day his older brothers, out of jealousy, sold him to slave-traders on their way to Egypt.7 Joseph suffered greatly at their hands, but faced an even greater trial after being assigned to work in the household of a leading Egyptian government official named Potiphar.8
Potiphar’s wife became infatuated with this handsome Jewish slave and, with her husband away at work, thought Joseph would be easy game for some recreational sex. But Joseph had been raised to know and follow the ways of the living God. He knew that this woman’s ways were contrary to the will of his God.
Again and again she tied to seduce Joseph, but he refused to give in. One day she decided to ‘go for it’ and tried physically to pull Joseph into her snare.9 Joseph ran for his life, saving himself from grave moral danger – and from almost certain death if the tale of their affair had been leaked to Potiphar.10
I know you are familiar with Joseph’s story, so you will remember the next part. The woman lied to her husband, shifting the blame and accusing their Hebrew slave of sexual misconduct. Her words and actions stand in stark contrast to the holiness of Joseph’s God.
Joseph’s integrity and faithfulness to God and His ways – passed on to him by his father, Jacob – resulted in his being shut away in a miserable Egyptian jail for two-plus years. But he was never shut away from God’s favour.11
Another biblical character faced similar temptations, but responded very differently. Samson was also one of God’s holy people, the Jews. Samson was given incredible strength to accomplish certain feats, but he did not share the strength of godly convictions which were so powerfully at work in Joseph’s life.12
The path of Samson’s life was darkened by a series of tragic moral failures. Though he believed in God, he married a Philistine woman, and the Philistines were enemies of God’s people. Even the urgings of his parents failed to dissuade him from pursuing this disastrous downhill course.13
Yet God had the last word in Samson’s life. Although Samson’s weakness played into the hands of the Philistines, God kept His eye on him. He gave Samson supernatural strength in his dying moments to inflict a mighty defeat upon his enemies.14
Why do you think God allowed this tragic story to be recorded in the Bible? One reason undoubtedly was to warn us against mistakes that bring moral and spiritual ruin.15
Matt, I know you well enough. In your four years as a university student and an active participant in our church family we saw you as a young man who was passionate for God. I am convinced that you want to pattern your life after Joseph’s life, not Samson’s. That is what God wants.
I plead with you: Embrace God’s holy desires for you, and fight against the evil designs of our enemy. God wants you to wait until you marry a woman after His own heart. He has wonderful pleasures in store for you through Christian marriage. Don’t throw that all away. Instead, throw away this plan of living together. All of us – including Elizabeth and all your Christian brothers and sisters here – urge you to stop before it’s too late. Take decisive action, Matt, and tell your friend that as a Christian, you cannot accept her invitation.16
I also urge you to cut all romantic links with her.17 That could lead to ridicule and rejection in the office, even false rumours. But by following God’s will, like Joseph you will enjoy God’s favour.18
Even if you had to resign or ask for a transfer, would that matter? If your work environment threatens your spiritual and moral well-being, any other so-called benefits are worthless. Set your mind on eternal riches, even if this means temporary losses.
My dear friend and brother, please take my counsel seriously. All I’ve written to you flows out of love for you. You know that! I cannot bear to contemplate your moving away from our Lord Jesus, the One and only Source of true life.
On thing is for sure: We your Christian family will not stop interceding for you. Please write me SOON telling me that you have received this email and have heeded my advice.
Your friend and brother,
Graham
Graham & Frieda Roberts have an international encouragement and teaching ministry, and now live in Hornsby NSW. The Chinese edition of this latest book, “United in Marriage by One Lord” was released in 2007. This article was reprinted from that book with permission. They can be contacted by emailing:dialog@equipandencourageintl.net.au
1.Ephesians 4:17-24; 5:1-10
2. 1 John 2:15-17; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
3. Proverbs 16:18; 1 Corinthians 8:1
4. James 4:7; John 16:33; Matthew 6:13
5. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:22
6. Joseph’s story is found in Genesis 37-50
7. Genesis 37
8. Genesis 39
9. Genesis 39:11-13
10. Genesis 39:12
11. Genesis 39:20,21
12. Judges 13-16
13. Judges 14:1-3
14. Judges 16:23-30
15. 1 Corinthians 10:11
16. Proverbs 3:1-4; 5:1-14
17. 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
18. Psalm 1:1-3
