Teenage pregnancy in the Philippines is rising at an alarming rate. In 2019, it affected 5.99 of teenage girls. It’s the second highest rate in Southeast Asia based on Save the Children's Global Childhood Report. That’s about 538 Filipino babies born every single day.
“In my time, there was hardly any teenage pregnancy,” scoffed Mrs. Gomez, a public school teacher.
“Why is that?” asked a young, new teacher.
“If you got pregnant out of wedlock, you’d be the talk of the town! People will gossip about you non-stop. Either you leave the neighborhood in shame or marry the father of your child quickly to stop the talk.”
Time was when people were restrained from doing anything outside of the norm because they were afraid of what others will say. What others thought of someone was a motivation for right conduct.
“Don’t dare besmirch our reputation!” “Don’t bring shame and scandal to the family!” These were common admonitions by parents to their children to act properly in public.
But this is what the Lord said in Isaiah 51:7-8 (NLT), “Listen to me, you who know right from wrong, you who cherish my law in your hearts. Do not be afraid of people’s scorn, nor fear their insults. For the moth will devour them as it devours clothing. The worm will eat at them as it eats wool. But my righteousness will last forever.”
If we do what is right in God’s sight, we need not fear the gossip of men. Otherwise this could lead to our downfall. The only thing that matters is the Lord’s approval. So we are called to trust only Him and His word.
“Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.” (Proverbs 29:25)
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