Simplicity and Chastity

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One of important virtues that Christians are called to develop and practice is chastity. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Chastity 

"... is the virtue which excludes or moderates the indulgence of the sexual appetite. It is a form of the virtue of temperance, which controls according to right reason the desire for and use of those things which afford the greatest sensual pleasures."

The call to Chastity is in accordance with the Christian call to holiness [see 1 Thessalonians 4: 3-7]. The same site, Catholic Encyclopedia, also states 

"According as chastity would exclude all voluntary carnal pleasures, or allow this gratification only within prescribed limits, it is know as absolute or relative. The former is enjoined upon the unmarried, the latter is incumbent upon those within the married state. The indulgence of the sexual appetite being prohibited to all outside of legitimate wedlock, the willful impulse to it in the unmarried, the willful impulse to anything unlawful, is forbidden."

Christianity accorded great importance to Chastity by considering it as one of the so-called evangelical counsels, together with poverty and obedience, in accordance with the Lord's statement about people who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the Kingdom of God [see Matthew 19:12] such as those who enter the religious orders. As an evangelical counsel, it is seen as one of the perfect ways of following in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

How do we relate Chastity with Simplicity? 

As we quoted from the Catholic Encyclopedia, Chastity is a form of Temperance: Temperance generally controls our desire for sensual pleasure while Chastity particularly controls our desire for sexual pleasure. As food intake is regulated as to provide sustenance for survival; sex is regulated as to ensure the continuity of the human race. Excessive desire for food, or anything material, leads to Gluttony while unregulated sexual desire leads to Lust. Both are considered among the seven deadly sins. Gluttony is regulated by the Seventh [You shall not steal] and Tenth Commandments [You shall not covet your neighbor's goods] while Lust by the Sixth [You shall not commit adultery] and Ninth Commandments [You shall not covet your neighbor's wife]. The Lord Jesus Christ even made the mere lustful look at a woman as already a matter of adultery [see Matthew 5:28]. 

Since Chastity is a virtue which regulates the sexual appetite, there is a need to live a perfectly simple and prayerful life. By living simply and prayerfully, we can slowly conform ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ [see Romans 6] and become holy or perfect just as our Father in heaven is [see Matthew 5:48]. If we live in simplicity, we shall not desire for more beyond what is required for our daily sustenance which God in His generosity provides for [see Matthew 6:33]. The simple person does not seek for more beyond that which will give glory to God; only those who aspire to offend God allow lust and other forms of sinfulness to control their minds and bodies. But for us who are friends of the Lord, we know that control and practice of the virtues which help us to overcome temptations and sin are necessary and with God's help we do overcome.