Last updated on October 2, 2020
Question:
Sir,
Please, hear my story and tell me what to do.
There is a family friend of ours who is staying with us in our family house. I noticed I am getting too close to her. I notice that we now have too much attraction to each other. The way I hug her a lot and always hanging with her. If I don’t control it, it may lead to something more sinful. Do you think it is right to tell her that the two of us should be careful and tell her that she should keep me at arm’s length?
Please advise me. Thanks.
Answer:
It is good that you recognize the potential danger. Whether you tell her really depends on how you think she will react to it. Some people would agree and step back. However, some people won’t believe you because it is not how they feel about the situation. She might find it amusing to taunt you. She might find it a challenge to see if she can get you to sin.
Asking her to keep you at arms’ length is putting the responsibility of your good behavior on her, and it doesn’t belong there. You are responsible for yourself. “The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). If things get out of hand, the only person you can blame is yourself, even if she encourages it.
Keep in mind Paul’s admonition: “Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman” (I Corinthians 7:1). Don’t stir up feelings that are not proper to complete.