pramsay posted on July 11, 2006 02:43 938 views

Some seem naturally adept at flirting. Are they really naïve and innocent? She seems to know how to lure the guys into her net. Sometimes it’s her frequent glances at you and the number of times your eyes meet; other times it’s a whisper or a walk past the target. A gesture of her hand or a nod, even a flash grin or a wink – it’s an indication that she might have an interest in you. Guys know how to do it too. Girls say: “That guy! He’s a real flirt!” He shows an interest in you. He singles you out or holds your hand a second longer than normal. He says things online that excite you and gives you hope. He plays with your affections. Or she tugs at your heart strings.

Flirting involves our affections and can often lead to deeper, more serious relationships. Maybe you’re thinking you’re beyond the flirting stage. Just a second. I’m not even talking about the male/female thing. James wrote these words:

Ye adulterers and adulteresses,
know ye not that
the friendship of the world is enmity with God?
Whosoever therefore will be
a friend of the world
is the enemy of God.

(James 4:4)

Adultery with the world? The moment I trusted Christ I was united to Him in an eternal bond. He won the affections of my heart. I fell in love with Him. Remember that day? Remember when you used to send Him love notes from your heart. “I love you. I am forever yours! I want to please You and remain faithful every day of my Christian life. Thank you for saving me from Hell. Thank you for dying for my sins. You gave Your life for me. I want to give my life, my all to You.

As a Christian, when I start glancing at the world and it begins to flash its eyes back at me, nibbling at the affections of my heart – that’s where adultery begins. The Pharisees thought adultery was when a man actually took the woman and committed sin. Jesus said: “From God’s perspective, adultery is when you look at her and desire to have her.” (Matthew 5:28) We measure outwards actions – God weighs the heart.

Am I flirting with the world? Am I looking at some activity, or some pleasure, or some lifestyle or some potential for wealth and riches, some fashions or styles and thinking: “…ummm I like that. What would be wrong with that? I find that really appealing. I wonder if I could get away with that.” The next questions I need to ask myself are:

  • If I do that, will it move me closer to Christ or closer to the world?
  • Will it make me more like my Saviour or more like the world that crucified my Lord?
  • Will it deepen my relationship with my Best Friend or will it make me friendlier with the world?
  • Will I look more like one who loves Christ or someone who is attracted to the world?
  • Am I flirting with the world?

It’s called spiritual adultery. When the world is getting a bigger hold of my life and more and more I am finding myself absorbed in the things the world goes after – it’s a very serious spiritual matter. I need to confess my spiritual unfaithfulness to my Saviour and Lord; focus my roaming eyes on the Lord once again and fall at His feet and tell Him that I love and adore Him – and Him alone. He is worthy of the affections of my heart.

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