Numbers 5-6; 1 Thessalonians 4
There is a lot in this world that tells you to go and do what makes you happy. While I am all for doing what makes this life beautiful for you, God tells us to do what makes you holy. This doesn't mean we need to necessarily stop doing the things that make us happy, but we do need to make sure we are being faithful to Him in our happiness and that the things we are doing are pleasing to Him. Today's readings talk a lot about purity and being faithful to yourself, to others, and to God.
Showing yourself respect goes deeper than simply standing up for your rights, as many in this world believe today. Being faithful to yourself in the ways God's Word lays out in our readings today creates a different view than what this world tells you to do in respecting yourself. God tells us to show respect for our bodies. What does this mean? Not only should you avoid sinning sexually, which is becoming looser in this world today as well, but don't flaunt it for the world to see when it is only meant for your spouse. This is tough in a culture that tells you to "express yourself" and making you believe that when you show more you get more. Ladies, this is why the types of guys you attract won't care about your heart, but your body. Get them on board with what is on the inside before allowing them more. Ladies want the heart of a man. Men want the body of a woman. He needs to earn it before you allow him in. (Check out Mark Gungor's Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage here - there is more than material for marriage in there.)
Faithfulness to yourself also comes with reputation. Paul tells us to live "quiet lives" and to "mind our own business". In other words, quit gossiping and causing others to question your motives. If you were ever to be blamed for something you didn't do, would it be easier for you to stand your case if you have been gossiping to everyone or living a life that only fulfills your needs and wants? Live a life above reproach, so that when someone does try to cast blame on you, it is hard for anyone to believe them.
This ties directly into being faithful to others around you. No one can just get that from you. They have to earn it and the trust needs to be built, but once you are friends, spouses, etc. follow the same rules towards them that you would want on yourself. Be faithful to them and protect their reputations, not gossiping, slandering, or spreading hate. We read an interesting process in Numbers 5, as the rituals of finding out if a woman is guilty of an affair is laid out for us. As the woman's faithfulness is being put to the test, her husband's is as well. The type of man to put that test on an innocent woman would be shameful indeed. But the type of woman who would fall guilty to that test is also shameful. Be faithful to one another. Do everything in your power to fight for your marriage, friendships, and relationships with family. I know the bottom falls out on the other side of that coin at times, to which I say the other person didn't do their job in that. Don't feel guilty for another person's unfaithfulness to you.
The most important one we can have faithfulness to is God. When we show Him faithfulness, we pour into the other areas of our lives that we need to be faithful in. He is the foundation. A heart that beats for Him will be one that protects yourself and others through faithfulness. We have an incredible hope that comes through our faith in Christ and allowing Him our entire life, keeping faithful to Him before all else. If we obey and are faithful to Him, pouring His Word, His values, His promises into our souls, in turn, we will live lives that are beautiful, regardless of how messy they become because He shined in them no matter what your situation was. If you remain faithful to Him, abiding daily in Him words, you can overcome through His power.
How faithful are you? Do you show you are faithful to God on a daily basis? To others? To yourself? First and foremost, be faithful in God's Word and promises, and all else will fall into place. Treat others and yourself in ways that are honoring to Christ. Be the type of person who lives a beautiful life because of the messy circumstances you allowed God to pull you through. Your faithfulness to Him will flow to other areas of your life. Allow Him to work in it.
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