IN THIS MATTER DON’T WRONG AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANOTHER

1 Thessalonians 4:6
and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-8 addresses this one matter. This matter has to do with sex, sexual immorality, lust, self control and the punishment prepared for those who abuse themselves and others. The pericope ends by affirming that this words are the very words of God and rejecting them is rejecting God.

Apostle Paul and his companions are unable to offer direct pastoral care to the Thessalonians due to persecution. He therefore sent Timothy to asses the state of the church. Timothy returns with good news that the believers are progressing well. Apostle Paul writes a letter to them touching on critical issues affecting them, and things they should bear in mind, for the church and individuals to grow. After “beating around the bush” in introductions and affirmation, Apostle Paul goes to the first point of his letter which we are considering today. He tells them that they should mind their sexual conduct. In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

Isn’t this advice relevant for our time today? If God demanded this from Thessalonians, doesn’t He demand it from us today? If God threatened punishment for those who fail at this point, doesn’t that threat target us too? In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

If people wrong each other sexually in church, the resentment will cause disunity and the mission of the church will fail. If people take advantage of each other sexually, there will be deep seated pain and the church will implode in failure. Sexual matters are highly private and personal and the pain from it may affect the church for a long time, before being noticed and getting addressed. In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

We wrong each other sexually by unfaithfulness. Sex should be a privilege of an exclusive marriage relationship. When it involves others, we have wronged each other in the exclusive relationship. We also wrong each other when we expose sex issues that were between 2 people to others outside the relationship. We also wrong each other when we don’t satisfy ourselves in the exclusive relationship. We also wrong each other when we abuse each other in reference to sexual prowess or lack of it. We also wrong each other when we seek magic, dark evil arts to control each other or retain each other. Apostle Paul tells the church and us that we should be careful about sex issues for God will punish offenders. In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

We take advantage of each other sexually by using incentives. The old should not take advantage of the young who may not be smart enough to know they are being exploited. The young do not know the difference between infatuation, love and the impact of sex in their lives, therefore don’t take advantage of the young. The employer should not take advantage of the employee and job seekers sexually. The rich should not take advantage of the poor sexually. The people in positions of privilege should not take advantage of their clients sexually. Don’t take advantage sexually of a recently dumped person who needs solace and not sexual abuse. Don’t take advantage of someone in a faulty marriage. Don’t take advantage of someone whose emotional needs are spinning out of control. Don’t take advantage of widows and the lonely. The Bible says God is watching and will punish those who don’t do right sexually. In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

When we are wronged and taken advantage of sexually, we lose self respect. Everytime we see those who offended us and those we offended, the spirit of worship and unity is no longer sustainable. For the good of the individual, the family, the church and society, we need to take heed of this advice. In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

Consequences of offending each other sexually includes entering into marriage that wasn’t well thought about. Sex can cause some people to enter into marriage that they will later regret. Sex is the reason why people don’t follow courtship instructions and instead rush into marriage thinking they have found the ultimate love. If they had not had sex, they wouldn’t rush to marriage and they wouldn’t even marry that particular person. Sex has caused pain leading to trauma, suicide and mental illness. Sex has led to children with single parents, hence poor growth for many. Sex has caused embarrassment to individuals when pictures, videos and stories are exposed. While we should take care of ourselves, the Bible demands that we take care of others too! Because of sex some people have given money to sexual partners, leaving their families with no school fees, no medicine and no food. Sex is a sensitive matter that unless handled well, it can lead to untold irreversible damage. In this matter don’t wrong and take advantage of another!

May God forgive us where we have wronged others sexually. May God give us recovery from pains of being offended sexually. May God’s people take heed of these words and protect each from sexual harm. In Jesus name, Amen!