Intimacy - There Is More To It...

 

1 Corinthians 7:5 –“Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer, but then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”

Intimacy – or should I say sexual relations.  Many times when the word intimacy is used that is the first and only thought that comes to mind.  We will take a look at that aspect of intimacy but I want to begin with a different verse.

Psalm 139:1 – “O Lord, you have searched me and known me.”

The first definition of intimacy in the dictionary is… “Close or warm friendship or understanding; personal relationship.” (dictionary.com) To be intimate with someone you are really close to them.  You know them in and out; just as it states in Psalm 139:1 – “O, Lord, you have searched me and known me.” 

That definition paints a whole different picture to intimacy.  Do you know your spouse in and out?  Have you taken the time to listen, to understand, to find out the little details in every aspect of your spouse?  There are years of things to discover within each other! 

Let’s go back to 1 Corinthians 7:5.  This verse is clearly talking about the sexual intimacy in a marriage.  But what if we deprived each other of getting to know one another in a close intimate friendship?  What if we didn’t take the time to talk with one another?  What if we didn’t spend quality time together with our clothes on?  Do you think satan would use that opportunity to divide a relationship?  YES, he will!!

Intimacy entails a great deal of trust, time, and dedication to one another.  Take time to discover things you didn’t know about your spouse.  Laugh together; cry together; share together; pray together and the intimacy of the friendship will grow.  The trust and dedication between each other will be stronger and satan will not have the ability to come between you.  

Finally, back to 1 Corinthians 7:5 – “Do not deprive one another…”  God created man and woman to be together in a married relationship.  When that intimacy is not there, the devil has an open door to tempt you.  Leave him out of your relationship and grow together in all definitions of intimacy!

Cheryl Durheim