Monday 4 June 2018

Homemaking Mondays: To be Chaste


Hello!  Welcome to Homemaking Monday! 

Today I'd like to share with you about being chaste. 

To be chaste is to be pure, sexually (Abstinent before marriage, and true to your marriage bed if you are married. ) Decent, wholesome, moral, restrained, unadorned, unembellished, simple, undecorated.  
These are some of the words that I have come across in studying this word.  

What does the Bible have to say about this?  

2 Corinthians 11:2
"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."

Titus 2:5
"To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

1 Peter 3:2
"While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear."

To be chaste is to be free of every fault, pure. This is a high calling.
Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
Holy, being free from defilement/ free from admixture of evil.
When I read this it made me think of all the things that are temptations in this present evil world.  Where evil is mixed in....even just a little bit...but none the less tainting what is good.  Modesty is out the window and sneered at.  Foul language is commonly heard from mouths young and old alike.  Being loud and boisterous / sassy is considered desirable.  Being flirtatious and promiscuous is considered a good quality.  It's just luring someone to want to have sex with you, or lust after you in their hearts.
Is this godly living? No!  
1 Timothy 2:9-10
"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
But which becometh women professing godliness with good works."
Ladies, we need to guard our thoughts, our words, our actions, and our relationships.  The world glorifies fornication and adultery.  The scriptures are full of warnings against these things. We have a great battle here.  We need to keep ourselves pure.  We need to seek to care about what the Lord thinks, more then what the world does.  
There are many things we can do...we can dress modestly, but it's also about how we conduct ourselves. How we move our bodies is just as important as what we cover them with.  What we say, and yes, how we say it.  We need to speak wholesome words.
James 3:17-18
"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
1 Peter 3:3-5
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:"
Do not get caught into the realms of those that seek to just look good on the outside....what is going on, on the inside comes out.  If in your heart things are lined up with righteousness, it will naturally come out in your appearance, behaviour, and language.

Proverbs 15:2-4
"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."

In all the things I have learned that in being chaste, it's about not drawing undo attention to oneself, to walk in meekness and simplicity.  That doesn't mean that you can't ever braid your hair, or wear nice things...it's just don't do so to the purposeful getting of attention from others. Especially from a man that isn't your husband.  That shouldn't be your motive.  To guard our tongues, our eyes, and our bodies.  God's way is always right, and no matter what the world may tantalize you with, it's not worth it.  Stay pure, seek the Lord and His righteousness.

Love and Prayers,

Jennifer

1 comment:

Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made said...

Chastity is INDEED scoffed at (and often IN the church) as being something that doesn't 'fit with the times'. I know from watching my own grown children that the qualities we are to strive for just don't seem important in today's world. Thank you for a timely and thought provoking post!!