Restraint?

I asked a young man today:  

Do you know that as a man it is your responsibility to protect a woman from having sex with you outside of marriage?  

Is it such an old idea that men are to protect women?  That men are looking for dragons to kill and women are looking to be rescued? When I was younger, I would have scoffed at that idea.  Like I needed a man.  It irritated me that typically, a man was physically stronger than I and could possibly kill a dragon more easily.  However, I could deal with any dragons myself, my awesome female powers trumping that of testosterone.

But what if...

What might a woman think of a man who protected her from having sex with him outside of marriage? She could think he's crazy and not have anything to do with him.  Or, she could be intrigued.  It could foster trust between them.  It could make her feel that he had her best interests at heart.  If she saw that the rest of his character was at that level, she could feel secure.  She would probably feel that he valued her highly.  

These are things a man wants his bride to feel.  When times get tough in the marriage, she can remember that the character of her husband was a huge reason she wanted to marry him.  She might be more prone to think that staying with such a man is worth the seasons of struggle.

Can current actions be restrained for long term rewards?

It doesn't take age to exercise that level of wisdom.  The wisdom of God is available for all who ask.