While my family and I were away on vacation for a family reunion, Jonathan and I were determined to continue our exercise routine. Typically, we try to do some form of cardio before we lift weights. One evening when I finished doing my cardio, I went to find Jonathan, he was at the basketball court. While I waited for him to finish up, I noticed something that caused me to think about us as women. The basketball court was full of boys and men either playing basketball or waiting to play. Among the guys was one young lady.
She was pretty good at playing basketball, I don’t think I seen her miss any of her attempts at shooting the ball. However, there was one problem. The top she was wearing was not appropriate for basketball. It looked like a tank top that we would wear to walk around outside in, not something to wear while participating in a sport. Although she was good at playing basketball, the way she was dressed took away from her talent.
None of the ball players wanted to guard her and as a result they were not maximizing their time on the court. I heard a few guys complaining about losing because no one wanted to guard her on the court. Since no one was guarding this young lady and the fact that she was good at shooting, her team would pass the ball to her often and as a result her team would win. As I listened to the guys complain and as I observed the way she was dressed I asked myself two questions. Why would she wear that to play basketball? Are we as women making it easier or harder for Christian men to be up right in this world?
I do not know if any of the men on the basketball court were Christians other than Jonathan but if they were I’m sure they found it hard to have pure thoughts. Most women are aware that men are visual beings, that’s just the way God made them. Are we using the information that we know about our men to shield them by giving them the visual stimuli they need at home? Or are we more concerned about fulfilling the need that God created inside of us for attention and relationships? God will hold us accountable for everything, all of our actions, motives, and our thoughts. We are reminded of this in Romans 14: 11-13:
11 It is written:
“‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord,
‘every knee will bow before me;
every tongue will acknowledge God.’”[a]
12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Challenge: Check your motives today! Ask yourself if what you have on will be a distraction to your brothers in Christ? It may be hard to change the way you dress, believe me, I know. I like my clothes to fit a certain way, but I had to start asking myself a hard question. What is more important my desire or helping to keep our fellow brothers in Christ upright? I urge you to ask yourself the same question. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
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