"KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS AND CONTINUE LIVING"

HE WAS young, intelligent, "beautiful in form and beautiful in appearance."  His employer's wife was sensuous and  bold.  Being irresistibly drawn to the young man, she daily tried to seduce him.  "It happened that on this day as other days he went into the house to do his business, and there was none of the men of the house there in the house.  Then she grabbed hold of him by his garment, saying:  'Lie down with me!'  But Joseph, the son of the patriarch Jacob, left his garment behind and fled Potiphar's wife. -Genesis 39:1-12.

Of course, not everyone turns away from a tempting situation.  For example, consider the case of a young many whom Solomon of ancient Israel saw in the streets  at night.  Upon being seduced by a wayward woman,  "all at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter." -Proverbs 7:21, 22 New International Version.

Christians are admonished to "flee from fornication."  (1 Corinthians 6:18) to the young Christian disciple Timothy, the apostle Paul wrote:  "Flee from the desires incidental to youth."  (2 Timothy 2:22) When faced with situations suggestive of fornication, adultery, or other moral wrongs, we too must flee as decisively as Joseph did from Potiphar's wife.  What will help us to be resolved to do that?  In the 7th chapter of the Bible book of Proverbs, Solomon gives us some invaluable advice.  He not only speaks of teachings that safeguard us from the wiles of immoral peoplle but exposes their method of operation by vividly describing a scenario in which a young man is seduced by a loose woman. 

Next time: 'Tie My Commandments Upon Your Fingers'

The Watchtower, 2000