Ownership.

"Don't you realize that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with you body."

-1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Tiny tops. Short skirts. Low-cut necklines. No, I'm not describing what you can find in the sleazy part of town; look in any junior high classroom. In fact, look almost anywhere these days and that's the type of clothing you will find. Everywhere you turn, there is underwear and skin showing--and not enough covered. We find the burqas worn by Middle Eastern women inconceivable, but are our choices all that acceptable? Women, what have we done to ourselves? Do we find our worth in our visual sex appeal?

The world tells us that we should be able to do whatever we want with our bodies. "If you've got it, flaunt it." We can use it to control and manipulate men: know their weakness, and taunt them. What is Christlike about that? How does our wardrobe declare who owns us?

Our bodies do not belong to us. They are from God and are for Him. we shouldn't be flaunting it but respecting it. We shouldn't be taunting men but helping them. The problem isn't thinking our body is a temple; it's that we forget whose temple it is. We are a temple of the Holy Spirit. We should be focusing on how our body furthers the kingdom of God rather than our status or popularity.

I try to dress respectfully, but there are things I wear that sometimes convicts me. As women, we are often blind to the full extent of what impact our appearance has. Take a close look at your wardrobe. Don't be afraid to ask trusted male family or friends what they think about your choices. And when you are tempted to think otherwise, remember that your worth comes from God and not your outward appearance. After all, our looks will change, but God never will.