One Way Husbands Can Battle Their Porn Problem

“Let your foundation be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth.” (Proverbs 5:18)

One of the by-products of a male pornography user is the tendency to objectify women. In other words, men will begin to view women as objects to serve their pleasure and not as fellow humans created in the image of God (Genesis 1:28). Pornography puts women on a page or a screen and creates this false dichotomy that they are objects and not people.

I have noticed in many conversations that I have had with men who struggle with viewing pornography that they show any of all of the following signs – a disrespect for women, talking down to women, treating women as inferior beings, being discriminate against women, etc.

It is out of the scope of this blog post today to give all the means for addressing or counseling a pornography problem. Perhaps another time, I can write about how I address that in the lives of Christians.

But there is one remedy, and I have found it to be a very powerful one in my own life, for addressing the real heart issue that produces pornography.

You see, the problem is not ultimately pornography. The problem is ultimately desire. The man or woman who views pornography has a problem with the desires of their heart. They are craving or wanting something or someone whom God has not given them. Their desires are misplaced, corrupt and tainted.

Instead, for men who are married, their physical desires should be for the wife whom God has given. Solomon says, “When a woman tempts you to engage in sexual sin, remember your wife. Go after her. Pursue her intimately.”

In my own temptations, when something creeps into my mind seeking to draw me into sexual desires I ought not have, I locate or contact my wife and tell her how beautiful she is, or I get affectionate, or simply talk to her. And when I have found her, I am quickly reminded of why I rejoice when I hear her name.