After giving some suggestions in an earlier post as to what those close to a Nashville Metro Council member may say to him and his spouse after his sins were publically exposed, I recalled some guidelines given in a sermon by Pastor Eddie Cupples that would benefit both married couples and single people. Here they are.
Five “Guardrails” Married Couples Should Establish:
1) Don’t travel alone with members of the opposite sex
2) Don’t eat alone with members of the opposite sex
3) Don’t hire “cute” members of the opposite sex because you want to help them
4) Don’t confide in or counsel members of the opposite sex
5) When you feel your heart or your desire drifting toward someone who is not your spouse, confide in a Christian friend or pastor
Pastor Cupples explained that it’s also important to know where your spouse wants you to set guardrails for your life. “When my wife advices me I need to avoid certain people in my life, I listen closely to what she is saying. Her instincts in this area are always on target.”
“Guardrails” for Single’s:
1) Apply the Married guardrails in your relationships with other married people
2) No sleepovers with members of the opposite sex. As my mom used to say when I was in high school, “Nothing good ever happens after midnight.” She was right.
3) Take a relationship break after a divorce or breakup so you can get right with God. You’ll know the time is right when the Holy Spirit speaks to you, not when the Devil lies to you.
Remember, both physical and emotion affairs are dangerous to marriages. You can protect your and your spouse from both by implementing the above “guardrails” in your life. And if you think what you are doing may be wrong, stop and ask God. Chances are He’s already given you the answer.
