"Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.'" – Matthew 16:24-25
Following Christ is an all-consuming pursuit that encompasses every area of our lives. If we say we follow Him, we need to deny ourselves, including our comforts and preferences for things, so that we can make room for what God wants for us in our lives.
Many Christians proudly confess that they love Jesus and follow Him. They do good works, share generously to those in need, and are genuinely concerned about bringing the gospel to the unsaved.
There are some, however, who have failed to realise that how we carry ourselves, including the clothes we wear, also matter. Have we thought of that?
Covering or Revealing?
In today's culture, one can't deny the fact that revealing clothes are common, especially for the women. Sadly, even our beloved sisters in church wear them, thinking that such clothes are beautiful to wear.
Sisters, I am a man married to the most beautiful woman I've ever known, and I would like to encourage you: If you really are following Christ, please don't wear revealing clothes.
If you're wondering why I said that, I have three reasons to give:
1. Your Body Was Meant for God – and Your Husband's – Alone
When a woman wears revealing clothes, what she doesn't know is that she bares what should be kept for her husband, either now if she's married, or in the future if she's still single.
In Genesis 2:25, we read that "the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame." That privilege is reserved for a married couple alone.
2. God Wants Our Nakedness Covered
We read that before the fall, Adam and Eve were not ashamed of being naked. But after the fall, we read that they became ashamed of it. What we read after that is astounding:
"And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife." (Genesis 3:21)
We all know that what God did foreshadowed the atonement of Christ on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. But have we ever realised that God literally covered Adam and Eve's nakedness?
Simply put, in a fallen world, we are to honour the sanctity of our bodies that God created. We are to cover it up, not to expose it. God created our bodies in honour, but because of sin, sexual lust and malice have come. It's best to keep ourselves covered. Bonus: it's warmer, too.
3. We Have to Deny Ourselves to Follow Christ
Truthfully, some women think that wearing revealing clothes are fashionable and beautiful. As Christ-followers, we shouldn't think that way, because that kind of thinking is carnal and does not glorify Christ.
Christ-following women, then, will do best to dress up not for show, but for honouring Christ. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, "And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do."
What About the Men?
Gentlemen, it's time we fight for God's daughters. Starting with our wives, mothers, and sisters, let's choose to honour and respect what God had made. Looking at women based on their body parts or skin is degrading, and turns women into objects. Not to mention it is sin to lust after them, and an offence to our wives and God.
Let's be men who will honour God by honouring our wives, and will not look lustfully at any woman. (see Job 31:1)
