The First Desperate Housewife

I admit it. I use to be a Soap fan when I was a teenager. Lured by the romance and drama, I assumed real life as an adult would play out in the same fashion. Boy was I wrong!

Real life isn’t like what we see on TV or read about in romance novels. In fact, these things can be dangerous to both single and married people alike. When our idea’s about life leave us dissatisfied, we can easily be temped to look at other options. Soap Operas, pornography and romances novels encouraged this kind of risky behavior that can lead to sin.

Often we convince ourselves that just looking or dreaming about being with someone other than our spouse is okay as long as we don’t actually do anything about it. Likewise, some single people feel that they can lust after another too as long as they remain physically pure. The truth of the matter is neither has remained pure. Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (NIV) That goes for us gals, too.

I imagine that Potiphar’s wife could be described as the “first” desperate housewife. She didn’t have TV or a romance novel to read. She had something better. Joseph. He was the head workman in charge who conveniently lived in her home and was pleasing to her sight. Unknown to Joseph, he was about to become the prey of a desperate housewife.

This Egyptian woman didn’t happen to notice Joseph one day and then, on the spur of the moment, ask Joseph to lie with her. No. Our key verse tells us she “cast her eyes upon Joseph” and spoke with him day after day. In other words, she watched him, she flirted with him, and she dreamed about him until her sinful thoughts led to action. Her husband ought to have been to her a “covering of the eyes” from all others. Instead, with the lust in her heart, she was daring and shameless in her sin.

How do we keep from falling into such sin? We should follow Job’s example. “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl [or boy].” (Job 31:1) We each have a great need and responsibility to make a covenant with our eyes. Remember that children’s song you sung in Sunday school?

“Be careful little eyes what you see? Oh, be careful little eyes what you see. For the Father up above is looking down in love. Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.”

We can protect our eyes is by choosing not to watch movies, pornography or TV shows that glamorize sexuality and can lead us into temptation. Our own husbands should be the covering of our eyes that protect us from looking at others. Besides, the grass is not always greener on the other side. I guarantee that guy doesn’t clip his toe nails either.

I also realize that we are human and we make mistakes. No one is perfect this side of heaven. That’s why it’s so important to be on guard. Another way to safe guard ourselves is to commit to taking hold of any lustful thoughts and quickly put them out of our minds. Temptation is not a sin. It’s when we dwell on the temptation that leads us to sinful actions. Don’t be like Potiphar’s wife. Ask God to give you “eyes” for the man or woman you already have.