Let’s start at the beginning—actually “in the beginning.”The Father of Life saw all that He had made and said, “It is very good.” But God didn’t like one arrangement. “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Genesis 2:18).

God saw Adam’s need for someone like himself, yet who complemented him. God decided to meet Adam’s need in the form of Eve. She wasn’t created out of dirt the way Adam was; Eve was made from Adam’s side—his rib.

In Fashion
One meaning of the word made in “Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:22) is to fashion. Think of a potter skillfully molding, forming and shaping clay.

God had Adam in mind when he fashioned Eve. God designed her to please him. When God woke Adam and presented Eve, Adam’s response was, in a sense, “Whoa!” “Man!” “Wo-man!” He liked what he saw. He really liked what he saw.

Now, how was Eve dressed? She wasn’t. She was bare and beautiful. Adam totally approved of the way his wife looked. This is part of God’s good design. If you get married, the Lord intended for your husband to like the way you look without any clothes on.

“May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love” (Proverbs 5:18-19). These verses explain the appropriate place for baring it all, in the context of marriage. A husband is to enjoy his wife’s body. Which means that this part of a woman’s body is not meant for any other man to see or enjoy—ever.

Beholding Beauty
What if you’re not married? Starting with Adam, God wired males to be aware of and appreciate females. The Lord is the One who fashioned the female body in a way to make guys notice. Have you recognized that they notice?

Guys are visual; what they look at could bring tremendous temptation if not in the context of marriage. As females we must understand this and be careful not to use this knowledge to exploit or hurt the guys around us.

God did make our bodies as beautiful. However, He never intended us to misuse our figures to raise desires in any guy to whom we’re not married. This is why modesty is confusing. Outside of marriage we don’t want to lead men to impure thoughts by what we display for their eyes.

Be wise and understand that when you emphasize your figure with clingy tops, tight jeans, plunging necklines or bare bellies, you’re not being considerate to guys. How are your youth-group guys supposed to focus on Jesus if you and your girlfriends provide tempting images as distractions? It takes courage to refuse competing with the girls in your school or church who try to get the most male attention.

Enjoy looking pretty, even work at it! You’re considered a “very good” creation. Dress in a way that honors your Creator. In doing this, you’ll reveal a lot about what’s hidden deep within your heart.

Take the Fashion Challenge!