“While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices of their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods, so Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.” Numbers 25:1 3
Meditation: Men today, like the men of Israel, tend to allow their passions to rule their lives. Some men will throw away a marriage, their family and the life they have built with their wife because of “love” for another woman. They confuse the intense feelings of lust for love and rationalize that life will be better with their new-found attraction. They turn away from God and when they aren’t blessed for destroying their family, wonder why the Lord has left them.
It may not be lust. It may be their search for significance through career, education, or achievement. In their pursuit of “feeling” important, they ignore their family’s needs and charge ahead without regard for the devastation they leave behind them. Even ministry can be a problem for men, when their passion for ministry and accomplishing good causes them to neglect their family.
Passions are good. It is the men passionate for a cause who accomplish so much. God instills passion into us and we serve a passionate God. The problem is when we allow those passions to control us and push us in directions that are sinful or neglectful. The men of Israel allowed the beauty and novelty of the Moabite women to draw them into sinful relationships and then even seduce them away from their God. We see all of these ingredients around us today and they are destroying lives and families. Men, we need to be passionate about loving and serving our God and then passionate for our wives and family. Passion for our job, ministry, or even hobbies and interests are all fine, as long as they are kept in perspective and are not allowed to rule our lives.
Challenge: Do your passions rule your life? Are God’s Word and His will the guiding principles for your life or do feelings guide you? Be passionate for God, for your wife and children, and for the good things the Lord puts on your heart. Don’t allow passions to draw you into sin or away from the Lord or your family.
Thought for the Day: Lord, help me to remain focused on You and to be passionate about what You are passionate about.
Chris Garner
Used by permission – Fortified Marriages.