Practical Simplicity ~ For His Glory

Hope Chest Article #1

I have some articles I wrote for Feelin Feminine that I thought I would share with ya’ll for the next few weeks, so here it goes, and I know some of you are excited!!

What is A Hope Chest? Part #1

I have had a few young ladies ask me “What is a hope chest?”, and “What is it meant for?” . My original answer was that it is a box (big, or small) that you put sentimental items, and things you might need for your future household, but by the Grace of God, I have come to realize that a hope chest is so much more than a chest, or box to put things in. For the first part of this post, let’s focus on the the first question : “What is a hope chest?”.

Hope chests have been around for many, many years. It was a means for young women to collect things that a future bride would need in her household for daily living. We see certain verses of the Bible that show us that hope chests can mean something far more precious to us Christian ladies than any kitchen utensil, fine china ware, or favorite sentimental items…….. It is the unfailing Love of our dear Savior Jesus Christ, and our our eternal life with Him in heaven for always and forever!

The wisdom and knowledge we learn as we grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father is like a chest of hopes. We “store up” all the things we learn and apply them to our daily lives and share with others what we have learned! This is definitely something you do not want to leave contained in a box, but share, and continue to share this with others, to help store their chest of hopes, that they would share with others as well! Here are some verses that go along with this first part of this post “What is a Hope chest?” :

Proverbs 1:2-7

“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Matthew 6: 19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break and steal. For where your treasure is, there will you heart be also.”

Colossians 2: 2-3

“That there hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

2 Peter 3:18

“But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

I pray that this encourages you to ponder about where your treasure is!