Resisting sexual temptation is a tough but vital topic to address with teens. Learn Bible-based strategies for teaching kids about keeping their minds, hearts, and bodies pure.
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused.” —Genesis 39:7-8
When Joseph was sold into slavery at age 17, he had no idea what was ahead. Sure, he would serve time as a slave and prisoner. But a beautiful older woman who wanted to have sex with him would also relentlessly tempt him.
Joseph just said no…again and again. And his refusals eventually led to a chain of events that saved his family, the future nation of Israel, from starvation. Learn how Joseph can help us and our teenagers with resisting sexual temptation.
3 Lessons on Resisting Sexual Temptation
1. Get buff!
From the Genesis account, we know that “Joseph was well-built and handsome.” His abs drew attention on the beach, and he won most arm-wrestling contests. Put simply, Joseph was ripped.
But this isn’t the kind of buff I’m talking about. As physically fit as Joseph was, he was even more spiritually fit. We know from verses like Genesis 39:2 that “the Lord was with Joseph so that he prospered.”
This assumes Joseph was spending time in prayer, reflecting on God’s promises. He was aligning his life with God’s will and doing it for God’s glory. In other words, Joseph was living a spiritually fit life. Hebrews 11:22 even mentions him as an Old Testament hero characterized by a life of strong, unshakeable faith.
Resisting sexual temptation starts with a spiritual regimen of time in the Word, prayer, and a daily declaration of dependence on the Holy Spirit. Without this, kids don’t stand a chance. Temptations come at them daily through phone screens and relationships with the opposite (or even same) sex that may tempt them to cross a line. So we must help them get buff.
2. Get tough!
Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. —Genesis 39:6-10
Joseph had to take measures to keep away from Potiphar’s seductress wife. He started by saying no day after day whenever she tempted him. But finally he had to just avoid her completely. Although she was the lady of the house, he was in charge of keeping it in order. So he made sure that, as often as humanly possible, he steered clear of her tempting ways.
For teenagers, this may mean choosing not to be with a certain person alone. It may also mean not sleeping in the same room as their phone or computer. Kids may need to completely avoid certain social media platforms, apps, or websites because of the inherent risks.
Whatever resisting sexual temptation means for your teenagers, challenge them to get tough. Remind them to avoid situations where they might easily give in.
