Resources/Articles
Why Should Young People Wait for Sex in Marriage? (1)
The best reason for waiting is in two parts: (1) God said wait; and (2) for personal integrity and protection.
After watching TV or listening to friends, many young people think God’s hold on sex until marriage is depriving them or holding them back from expressing their true feelings of love. What they need to hear is Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:9-11: “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?” Do not lose sight of God’s plan for sexual desires, or any desires. He knows what you need, and He knows when you need it.
God’s instructions are very clear: “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). “Each one of you know how to possess of himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:4). “Glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20). “Flee fornication” (1 Corinthians 6:18). “Flee youthful lusts, and follow after righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2 Timothy 2:22). Out of God’s love, He has given boundaries for our protection. Think about the reason why lanes are placed in a pool. They prevent the swimmer from going into another lane and interfering with other swimmers or vice versa. In like manner, God has placed limitations on sex to keep others in their lanes and to keep us in ours.
From what is God trying to protect us by placing boundaries on expressing our sexuality? When young people go shopping, unless they spend their own money, they rarely look at the price tag. Cost is no object. In the case of sex outside marriage, those who want to express their sexual freedom need to know it has a price tag. Actions have consequences. We are vulnerable. What has happened to others, who did not stay within the guidelines God places upon sex, can also happen to you. No one is exempt from the cost others have had to pay.
Believing God’s commandments are for your good and to protect and provide was understood within the heart of a young man. He said, “I firmly believe that curiosity is very dangerous in a teenager’s mind regarding sexual immorality. Parents need to teach children the “whys” for living their lives pleasing in the sight of the Lord, not just ‘because I said that’s the way it’s going to be.’ There are a hundred ‘good’ worldly reasons to have sex in your life as a teenager. Parents need to have a thousand better reasons for waiting. Most importantly, each of those reasons must have love behind it.”
One reason we will discuss here to wait for sex in marriage is the physical impact.
When young people reduce sex to another form of entertainment, they often pay an extremely high price physically. Sex outside of marriage is not harmless. Sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy are daily reminders of the impulsive and careless actions of casual sex.
One out of four unmarried people who have sex will be infected with a sexually transmitted disease from AIDS to cancer. Do not believe the “protection” is available to stop these diseases or pregnancy 100%. There is only one method proven to have a 100% protection rate - Abstinence.
Pregnancy does not know religious, racial, or cultural boundaries. It is a sure sign you have been caught having se. Pregnancy proves it is not intended for anyone other than a husband and wife. Creating another life is a tremendous responsibility that cannot be handled by any two people who are not committed for life to each other.
The number increases daily of the girls who are seen at school who are hurt, frustrated, ashamed, angry, and depressed and within a few months give birth as an unmarried girl. With all this, it makes you ask the question, “Why are they pregnant?” What will their lives be like afterwards? One thing is definite: three lives will be forever marred for the sake of a few minutes of self-gratification. Do not become callous to the pain others experience! Do not get in your mind what has happened to them will not happen to me!
