This movie was shown in late 1952, starred David Niven and Joan Caulfield, and was described as “a quick-witted, battle of the sexes farce.” If I ever saw the movie I don’t remember it, but the plot was pretty common for the 1950’s – boy wants girl; girl rejects boy; boy wins girl – but not like they do it today.
When God made us humans in the beginning, He made us “male and female,” Mark 10:6. It is true that His creation included the attraction that exists between male and female, and when He had finished that creation, He said, “It is very good,” Genesis 1:27-31. Shortly after, God established the home and family as man’s domain:
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh,” Genesis 2:21-24.
Throughout the Bible there is a thread of fidelity required of both male and female. For one to commit adultery is a violation of that “fidelity” required by God, and under the Mosaic code, adultery was punishable by death. In other words, the “Lady” had to learn how to say “no” to infidelity – and both lady and gentleman must learn to say “no” to adultery today. In fact, there are many areas of our life in which we must say “no!”
Say “no!” to temptation!
It took a while for male and female to learn how to say “no” to things that were to be “desired,” Genesis 3:6. When they were tempted they failed to resist, and sin was the tragic and lasting result:
“…every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death,” James 1:14-15.
A powerful promise is made to all who say “no” to temptation, that if you “resist the devil…he will flee from you,” James 4:7. Yes, he will quickly retreat. Another promise is also made regarding temptation:
“God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it,” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
Stay out of situations where temptation is commonly encountered. Learn to say “no” to every temptation!
Say “no!” to Self!
Football coaches often use catchy phrases to get a point across. “There is no I in Team!” is one that is well known. But having a banner in the locker room, or repeating it like a mantra is not going to make players less self-centered. It takes each player being determined to keep the team and its interests first, and personal interests last.
Christians must “love one another with a pure heart fervently,” 1 Peter 1:22, and that means to put the needs and interests of others higher in our priorities than our own. It’s easy to say – not easy to do! But we must! Say “no” to selfishness!
Say “no!” to the $ Sign!
Our system of economy is built upon the dollar. Money itself is not evil, though the love of money is at the root of many kinds of evil, and that is what we must fight against. We must provide for our family (1 Timothy 5:8), and one who refuses to do so is “worse than an infidel,” having “denied the faith.” We know this is true even as we stretch out our time and energy to get another dollar. A single-minded pursuit of money seldom ends in “Happy Valley,” but in “many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction,” 1 Timothy 6:9. Money must not be at the top of our list of priorities. Say “NO” to the $ sign!
Say “no!” to Gossip!
The Bible calls it tale bearing: “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly,” Proverbs 26:22.
Some don’t think it shameful for a person to carry stories around about another person in order to serve their own personal agenda. We can stop the gossip by refusing to listen to and repeat their “stories”, whether they are true or not. Remember Proverbs 26:20:
“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”
Say “no!” to Saying “no”
There are times to say “no”, but there are also times we should say “yes.” James 4:17 says:
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
When Jesus observed the world in which He lived and died, where He walked the lanes with the rich and the poor, He knew He had what they needed – the gospel. Looking at the world, the people and their need, He told His disciples:
“The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest,” Luke 10:2.
It’s still true today – too many lost, too few who say “yes” to taking the gospel to the world. Won’t you be one of those needed workers? It’s time we start saying “no” to saying “no.”
