Intimacy Leaks

Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.

Proverbs 4:23, HCSB

JAROD WAS CONCERNED. Since starting work on a project two weeks ago with Amy, an attractive coworker, he found himself opening up more and more about his personal life. The more he shared, the more he found himself comparing Amy to Natalie, his wife of thirteen years. Although technically no boundaries had been crossed and nothing they discussed had been inappropriate, Jarod realized it was becoming easier to withhold information from Natalie that he had already shared with Amy. He knew he was on a slippery slope with these “intimacy leaks,” and if he didn’t quickly make some changes, major boundaries could be crossed.

Men rarely set out intentionally to have an inappropriate relationship. Like Jarod’s relationship with Amy, it often starts innocently with small conversations about benign topics that don’t initially seem wrong. But the unfair comparisons between the obvious strengths of the coworker and the wife’s known weaknesses are often just around the corner. If we aren’t careful, these comparisons can lead to resentment instead of the intimacy we want with our wives.

Marital intimacy requires hard work, even when things are going well. Prayerfully ask the Lord to help you guard your heart and love your wife well.

BOTTOM LINE

If you are married, take a moment to honestly assess the intimacy you are experiencing with your wife. Are there any leaks that need to be plugged?

Moment of Strength: Colossians 3:19