What We Let Into Our Homes

Jun 30, 2011 by desiringvirtue

Consider this story I remember reading over five years ago:

One day when I returned home from work, my wife was gone and a stack of mail was on the kitchen counter. I flipped through the bills then I spotted a very explicit lingerie catalog at the bottom of the stack. My pulse quickened. I snatched up the catalog quickly twisted it into a tube, opened our back door, and threw it into the trash can.

As soon as I shut the door, a very intense inner struggle began. God had given me the strength to throw it away. But my sinful desire was lobbying hard. I’ll be honest. I really wanted to open up that trash can and pull out the catalag.

A dozen thoughts and justifications flew at me: Shannon is gone, so no one would know. I’ll only look quickly. Maybe I could pick out some article of clothing for Shannon. That’s it! I wouldn’t be lusting; I’d be shopping! It’s not pornography. I’ll only do it this once.

“No!” I said aloud. “I will not lift the lid of that trash can. I will not look at that catalog!” If my neighboors had seen me arguing with myself as I paced in our kitchen, they would have thought I was crazy.

But my lustful desires kept whispering: It would feel good. You haven’t done it for a long time. God will forgive you and you can find a humbe way to cofess it to your accountability group.

The fact that I’d even think such deceitful thoughts scared me. I grabbed the phone ands started calling friends. I dialed Joe… busy signal. Eric… answering mahine.

Well, you’ve done your best to get help. You might as well indulge.

“Shut up!”

I dialed John’s number and he answered. “Hey, Josh, what’s going on?”

“Hey, buddy,” I said with a sigh. “I need you to pray for me…”

-Not Even a Hint by Joshua Harris

Upon reading this story I was amazed by the inner struggle Joshua recounts. I made a mental note to never put my own future husband in such a situation!

Fast forward to today and I am ashamed to admit that I receive Victoria’s Secret catalogs at my home. I don’t exactly know how I got on their list, whether I gave them my address while purchasing something from their store or through an online purchase I am not sure, but somehow they got it. And now I receive their magazine filled with what could easily pass as pornography if used in such a way.

Why did I not stop the subscription when it began? I don’t typically browse through the catolog… no, what I enjoy are the gift certificates for free items that come along with them every so often.

Gift certificates.

Apparently a free pair of underwear is more important to me that my own husband’s battle with lust.

A little while ago my husband jokingly mentioned that I was keeping porn in our home when he brought in the mail. It was then that I remembered this story and realized what a temptation I was inviting into our lives.

How careful we have to be to guard our husband’s eyes and hearts. We are partners with them in their spiritual lives, partners that are meant to encourage and strengthen… not tempt and weaken. Just as I would quickly switch sides with my darling husband as we walk through the mall so as to block his view of a lingerie store’s explicit ads, I must take every measure to make our home and our mail temptation free. Obviously there is no way to get rid of every temptation, but I can do my best to help him in his fight, to make our home the haven of worship I desire it to be.

So, I am writing this to encourage other women who may not be aware of the struggle their husbands face. I am writing to others who may not realize that their “innocent” catalog may be a vehicle of sin. I am writing to challenge you to pay full price for that silly pair of underwear in order to protect the heart of your beloved husband.

“But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” (Matthew 5:28-30 ESV)

“…but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:6 ESV)

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