May 23: When Privacy is to Be Avoided

"One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. She caught him by his cloak and said, "Come to bed with me!" But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house." (Genesis 39:11,12)

There is an environment in which sexual temptations thrive, it is called privacy. For most people, it is impossible to yield to sexual sins when people are present. That is why, even with the prevalence of sexual sins in the society, it is hard to find people committing it on the streets. Under normal circumstances, adultery and fornication are usually private affairs,  done behind closed doors. A certain measure of secrecy and privacy are required. Christians who engage in sexual sins, usually hide to do it. They keep secret relationships. They go to secret places where they feel they cannot be exposed. 

In our text today, Joseph found himself in an uncomfortable situation of privacy. None of the servants were inside. He was alone with Potiphar's wife. This situation exacerbated the sexual temptation and provided room for false accusation.  Joseph did the right thing. He fled the place immediately.

This truth could also be one of strong defense against sexual sin. Deliberately avoid situations of privacy that can lead to it or create opportunity for false accusations. It means you should avoid being alone, as much as you can, with another member of the opposite sex, who is not your spouse. Make it a life policy to avoid being behind closed doors with such people. If you are in a relationship with someone or even engaged, make your meetings private but in public. Avoid going to each other's houses when no one else is there. 

Avoid secret relationships. If you are not proud of your relationship enough to reveal it to your pastors, church and family, it is not worth it. The privacy will hurt you. Avoid traveling together alone and staying in the same hotel. Such arrangements create the perfect opportunity for either sexual sins or false accusations. This is just practical wisdom. If you find yourself in such a situation unwittingly, then do what Joseph did, leave the place in a hurry. You will be protecting your calling in God.


Decision of the Day

I understand that sexual sins and false accusations require some form of privacy. So, to avoid falling into these, I will manage the people I allow myself to be behind closed doors with. I will guard against meeting or traveling alone with people of the opposite sex to the best of my effort. I will avoid secret relationships and  intimate discussions without boundaries, with people of the opposite sex. If I find myself in such situations, I will leave the environment, stop the relationship, or end the conversation immediately. I will protect my calling in God.