Sexual temptation in the workplace

It is interesting to reflect that the well-known story of Joseph's battle with sexual temptation in Genesis 39, occurred in his place of work. What can we learn from the attempted seduction in Potiphar's house?

A place of danger

Why can the workplace be a dangerous place sexually? Aside from the fact that these days people of both genders go out to work, there are a number of reasons why our place of employment might present a temptation.

ATMOSPHERE. Joseph (verse 1), had been taken from the promised land to Egypt. He had been taken from a place where God was known and his righteous requirements acknowledged, to a place where they were not. Sadly, it is like that for many Christians as they travel from home to work. The office knows nothing of God these days. You enter an amoral environment, where pragmatism and profit are the only rules. The idea of Bible ethics in business is frequently not only despised but seen as a positive impediment to progress. That amoral atmosphere can affect us and lower our defences. 'No one cares here, so why not?'

TIME. Joseph was spending a lot of time around Potiphar's wife (verse 2). We spend around a third of our week with our colleagues at work. When you take into account long hours of work, sleep and the time spent commuting, time with the children, you may be more often alone with colleagues than you are with your spouse. People in a similar situation, under similar pressures, spending lots of time together hopefully do develop a closeness, a team-spirit. But if that closeness is with someone of the opposite sex, it may get too close.

STRESS. It would be no surprise if Joseph felt pretty vulnerable at this time. After all he had just been rejected by his family and had suffered the indignity of being sold as a slave. Here he was in a foreign land where no one knew or cared about him. Confused and hurting, did he feel the need for some affection and tenderness?

Despite the controlled exterior, the workplace is a place where people often get hurt emotionally. Targets are not met and the boss gives you a hard time. You miss out on that promotion. You have a bad day and are made to look dumb by someone who is your junior. The competition and stress of the business world can leave people lonely, tired and vulnerable. And that is just the time when we might long for consolation from 'someone who understands'. Except that someone might be a colleague rather than your spouse.

AUTHORITY. With the current awareness of sexual harassment in our culture, perhaps this is not the problem it was in the past. But here we find Joseph being asked for sexual favours by a superior, Potiphar's wife. She was someone who could put in a good word for him or get him sacked (verses 7,10-11). The workplace always has a power structure which can be misused to bring sexual pressure to bear.

These factors are worth contemplation. Perhaps the relationships in your office or shop or whatever are good and right. But do not be naive.

Taking steps

Some of these we can relate to Joseph.

Be an up-front Christian. Even though Joseph was a slave he witnessed to his faith in God (verse 9). That did not put off Potiphar's wife, but it might put off some people from making advances. Why not have a Bible or New Testament on your desk at work? It could act as a reminder to you of your commitment to Christ, and act as a friendly signal to others of where you stand.

Be walking with God. The recurring theme in Genesis 39 is 'the LORD was with Joseph' (verses 2,3,5 and 21). It was because God was with Joseph that Joseph had the strength and the sense to resist the seduction when it came. We need to maintain the spiritual basics of prayer, worship, Bible reading, fellowship and honesty. It is worth remembering that before James tells us to 'resist the devil', he emphasises the need to 'submit yourselves then, to God' (James 4.7).

Beware of rationalisations. Falling into immorality or adultery always involves a process. It does not just happen. Step 1 takes place in the thoughts. Step 2 involves some positive signal from the object of desire. Step 3 is the emotional attachment nurtured by both people. Step 4 is finding the time and place. Step 5 is the sin. At each point down that deadly path our sinful nature will find an excuse to go ahead to the next step. 'It is only a thought, it can't do any harm.' 'We are close, but we are doing nothing wrong.' 'Everyone is allowed one mistake.' Give no room to such rationalisations. Joseph gets the 'come on' loud and clear, but he will not allow sin a foothold, even in his mind. 'How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?' (verse 9).

Be ready to run. In the end, the pressure was such that Joseph had to simply take to his heels (verse 12). Perhaps someone reading this finds themselves getting involved too deeply with someone in their place of work. It is better to run, to resign your job, than to wreck your spiritual life and if you have one, your family. To run may initially bring trouble, but it will eventually bring blessing, even as it did for Joseph.

Lastly, if there are married people reading this, perhaps I ought to address you as the other partner. Be aware that when your spouse goes to work he or she may enter a world with its own peculiar set of sexual temptations. Do your best to make sure that home is the best place and that the relationship with you is the source of tenderness and joy that it ought to be (Proverbs 5.18,19).

Sexual temptation in the workplace

A place of danger

Taking steps

JEB

John Benton

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