6 Commitments of Highly Effective Marriages -- Part 2 | Exclusivity

The second commitment of highly effective marriages is exclusivity.  Effective marriages are committed to reserving all sexual activity and energy for their marriage.  

This comes from the wisdom of Jesus who taught that any sexual activity outside of marriage is not only forbidden, but it is also the only grounds for divorce (Mt 19:6).  

We live in crazy times.  Things like pornography, swinging, polygamy, and polyamory all used to be unthinkable but now are commonplace.  Yet all of these are a rejection of Christ's teaching that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and all sexual activity is to be kept in the marriage bed (Mt 19:4-5; Heb 13:4).

God's commands are always beneficial.  When you are sexually pure, it spices up your marriage.  When your marriage is your only outlet for sexual energy and activity, then your love life is exponentially more fun, your trust is higher, your intimacy is deeper, and your spouse is infinitely more attractive.  But when you squander your sexual drive on thoughts, pictures, and people outside of your marriage, then you have less energy and desire for your spouse.  Your love life becomes less exciting and less frequent.  Your spouse becomes less important.

When I was a kid my mother wouldn't let me have a snack close to meal time.  She'd say, "You'll spoil your dinner."  That's exactly what happens when you live in sexual sin.  Your ruin your appetite for your spouse.  Your spouse becomes less desirable.  Your love life becomes less satisfying.  When you get in bed with your spouse, you are already "full."  But when you "fast" from sexual sin, your marriage becomes a gourmet meal, your favorite food in the whole world, and you look forward to "feasting" with eager anticipation.