Have you ever thought about how you are investing in romance? Where have you been looking for guidance about sex and romance? Statistics reveal that most people even those who regularly attend church are not looking to the Church or to God’s Word for guidance about sex and romance. The spirit of Eros has taken over in our culture and in most people’s lives. Eros is the Greek god of love the son of Aphrodite the goddess of love and beauty. Eros speaks of physical sexual love. It is the word we get erotic from and it well defines our culture’s obsession with sex and the erotic. The Greek word “Eros” is not used in the New Testament. (NT was originally written in Koine Greek) The primary Greek word used for love in the NT is Agape.
Eros romance is an ever increasing desire (fire) for an ever deceasing pleasure that leads to baggage and bondage. Eros is man-driven romance.
Agape romance is an ever increasing desire (fire) for an ever increasing pleasure where romance is enhanced and God brings blessing into the relationship. Agape is God-given romance.
“The period in which we now live may well go down in history as the Erotic Age. Sexual love has been elevated into a cult. Eros has more worshipers among civilized men today than any other god. For millions the erotic has completely displaced the spiritual…” -AW Tozer
So, how do we start investing in romance so that we can be set free from the past baggage of Eros romance and the bondage it brings into our lives and experience God’s best?
Embrace Agape reject Eros
Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Contemplate the return on your investment in the world’s Eros love versus God’s agape love. Sex was God’s idea and He has given clear guidance on it within His Word, not to minimalize pleasure but to maximize pleasure and blessing in our relationships.
Ask for Forgiveness
1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
All of us have felt the baggage and bondage affects of Eros love to some extent. So, how can we be pure again in God’s sight? We come to Him and ask Him to cleanse us and help us follow Him so He can bless us and help us see the pleasure of purity.
Think Stewardship not Ownership
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received form God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
How do you view your body? Faith is trust. Do we trust that God knows best for our bodies? Are we willing to trust Him with our romance, with our sex lives? It is the original lie of Satan that God desires to withhold pleasure and blessing from you.
Take Action Fight for Purity
Philippians 4:8-9, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me – put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Take some time and put together an action plan for investing in purity. Start studying what God’s Word says about sex and romance. Bring a friend or a couple of friends in on it and encourage one another and keep one another accountable for God’s best for you in the areas of romance and sex.
Romance is like a fire. When it stays in the fireplace it is beautiful and brings many blessings to those who experience it. But if it is allowed to leave the fireplace it burns things up and is very destructive. God has defined the fireplace in His Word, it is best in every way. Trust Him!
Keep the Fire in the Fireplace
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