In Genesis 4, Cain kills his brother Abel because of jealousy.  Then in vs 9 when God confronts him about it, he gives the smart-aleck reply, "Am I my brother's keeper?"  That's an interesting question, and we'll come back to it.

Last night after church when everyone was standing around chatting, there was a teen girl not far from me talking to a group of boys, wearing not much more than would be seen at the public pool. Skirt too short, plus a slit, shirt with spaghetti straps, and cut low enough that we could all see the roundness and cleavage of her bust.  She was smiling and laughing, bouncing around so her breasts would be sure and catch their attention.  No wonder she was surrounded by boys.  Those boys went home last night and sinned because of her.  Even if they tried to fight the temptation, they finally gave in and, at the very least, lusted after her in their hearts.  I wondered where her mother was when she went shopping, and where her daddy was when she walked out the door dressed like that.  Parenting doesn't stop when our children are old enough to drive.  In many ways, it BEGINS then.  The issues become much bigger than 'don't eat another cookie before supper'.  Here's what God says about lust:

"Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."  (Matt 5:28)  In the next verse, God tells a man what to do if it happens.  "And if they right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:  for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."

Whole body cast into hell??  That's pretty severe, isn't it?  But that's what God thinks of a man lusting after a woman.  And to think that SHE is the cause of his lust.  Girls, in case you didn't know, you don't have to be undressed for a man to lust after you.  You just have to show a few curves.  Smile kinda sexy-like and stand with a nice curve in your back, sort of accentuating your butt.  It doesn't take much.  So it stands to reason that you can help him NOT to lust, by being careful what you put on your body.  Sure, there will be guys who lust no matter what you're wearing, but you must do your part in order to be blameless.  Don't paint your clothes on, then act like you didn't know it would be a problem.  No girl wears clothes that are skin tight because it's comfortable; she wears them that way to attract boys.  Some of you will argue, "It's my body; I can wear what I want."  But, no.  It's not your body.  "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."  (I Cor. 6:19-20)  God bought your body, soul, and spirit when He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die in YOUR place, to pay the price of YOUR sin.  It's not YOUR body.  It's God's.

So the question becomes, what do I put on GOD'S body?  Go stand in front of your closet and ask that question.  Take out your favorite shirt and ask, "Does God want this on HIS body?"  "Can I bring glory to the Saviour of my soul while I'm wearing this?"  I bet your wardrobe will change.

Back to the original question.   You have the power to make it thousands of times easier for your brothers in Christ to keep thier minds pure.  Yes, you are your brother's keeper.

Be thankful ~

Karen