1 Corinthians 7:5-7
5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. 7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
For those who are married, we must not withhold intimacy for too long in order to avoid temptation, because even the best self-control has limits. Satan loves to take advantage of our weak nature, making us pridefully ignore this, but God reminds us to keep our temple clean with an undefined bed. Paul says this for our good, based on our fallen nature and the battles we wage in our old nature. Not all can fight such desires to be so committed to God alone to be single, for that is not a common gift, so we protect what God has called us to in imitation of the church as Christ’s bride. Notice also that when we do abstain for a short time, it is to allow us to deepen our relationship with God in prayer and fasting.
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