Sex: Is it Worth Dying for?

I was moved to write this after an intriguing but tragic news aired on a local radio station (Jubilee 106.9 FM in Keta). A young man, speculated to be aged between 20 and 25, was reported to have been killed in the immediate aftermath of being caught having sex with a married woman. The incensed husband was Satan's Judas in the drama, and murdered the man without delay.

According to the news item, the husband had long suspected the young man of being in an illegitimate relationship with his wife but for so long never had any solid proof, and, thus, couldn't take action against them. But their cup filled up, and he caught them in the act on the eventful day. Deeply angered and driven mad, he failed to control his emotions and knifed the sheepish lover on the spot.

And there ends a life. A bitter, sweet death? Absolutely. Pain in the arms of pleasure. But dumb and dead. Sad and sad. A life wasted.

The incidence brought to mind a Bible verse I once studied. I speak of the seventh chapter of Proverbs (the most relevant parts paraphrased below):

“Looking through my window, I saw a young man lacking wisdom and understanding. He soon met a harlot who deceived him with sweet words, telling him: “Come, let us have our fill of love, let us make love until tomorrow morning. My husband has traveled and won't be returning for a long while.” And as a fool to the correction of the stocks, the young man followed her and enjoyed himself for awhile. But the husband arrived, suddenly, caught them in the act and struck the unfortunate lover. He died.”

When I heard the news and recalled that chapter in Proverbs, I contemplated a similar situation I once found myself in a few years back. I was alone in a room with the wife of an elderly and close friend of mine. She was an attractive woman with a sort of “no man can resist me” look about her. My manhood hardened as I stole guilty glances at her full figure clothed in a scanty skirt and top.

She was spoiling for a fling, and was giving me all the sweet smiles and glances of amorous invitation. I almost and almost indulged myself, but something held me back. The thought of banging a friend's wife invoked an abominable guilt in my heart, and I fled from her presence.

Today, I thank God for not allowing me to indulge myself on that day. Satan and his cohort of demons would have laughed at my peril, and while I abide in my sin they could have struck me dead. Thanks be to God.

Now let us pray: “O Lord, let us not be inflamed by the desire for sex. Let us not anyone's wife touch. Not even the unmarried ones. For if we indulge in sex without marriage we sin and open ourselves to satanic attacks. Satan may then possess our bodies to use them as he pleases. That we do not want.

If our desires for sexual pleasure we can't control then let us get married early and young (and live to enjoy it or regret it as the Greek philosopher Socrates once noted).

Lord, let such a sin be put far from us. Let us not pursue sinful pleasure. In Christ's name we pray with much thanksgiving. Amen.

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Stanley Courage Dugah is a writer and poet based in Ghana. He regularly blogs at scdugah.wordpress.com. Besides writing online, he's also working on a number of novels, novellas, short stories, and a poetry collection. You can connect with him on facebook or
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