On the heels of Sharmayn’s post on the trickery of emotional infidelity…

I decided to do a bit more research. Especially since, according to InfidelityFacts.com, while it’s sad enough that over 53% of marriages end in divorce, check out the findings on adultery within the union:

Percentage of marriages where one or both spouses admit to infidelity, either physical or emotional: 41%

Percentage of men who admit to committing infidelity in any relationship they’ve had: 57%

Percentage of women who admit to committing infidelity in any relationship they’ve had: 54%

Percentage of men and women who admit to having an affair with a co-worker: 36%

Percentage of men and women who admit to infidelity on business trips: 36%

Percentage of men and women who admit to infidelity (emotional or physical) with a brother-in-law or sister-in-law: 17%

Average length of an affair: 2 years

Percentage of marriages that last after an affair has been admitted to or discovered: 31%

Percentage of men who say they would have an affair if they knew they would never get caught: 74%

Percentage of women who say they would have an affair if they knew they would never get caught: 68%

And do you know what tripped *me* out the most in these findings? The majority of people who would do it if they thought they would never get caught. That being that case, it causes me to think that a lot of people are remaining faithful, not out of *love* but due to *fear*. *That’s not good*.

And while I’m sure that a lot of us within the Church would like to say, “That’s what *the world* does”, most of us not swimming in the sea of denial knows that is not the case. Sure, we may be aware that “Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery” is the Seventh Commandment (with “7” biblically symbolizing perfection-wow!) but other than being told in Hebrews 13:4 that, along with fornicators, those who do it will be judged…*what motivates people to be faithful*?  Shouldn’t there be something more than *fear of God* and simple *obligation to one’s vows* that motivates a person to remain with their spouse and him (or her) alone?

And so…my question is this: those of you who are faithful to your husbands (or wives), what inspires you to do so? And, also on the heels of Sharmayn’s post, what do you do to “adultery-proof” your marriage in the process?