If we want our lives to glorify God, that purpose will affect what we wear and how we act.

Consciously or unconsciously, our external appearance communicates a message to those around us. Ultimately, our clothing choices are based on our life values. That’s why it’s important to ask questions like:

• Why was I born?
• What is my purpose in life?
• Do I have a particular mission to accomplish?

With these questions in mind, let’s look at three foundational principles of life that affect the way we choose to dress:

1. Ownership: My body does not belong to me; it belongs to God.

You’ve heard the words (perhaps you’ve even said them): “It’s my body. I can do whatever I want with it.” Is it really your body?

First Corinthians 6:19–20 reminds us, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

How would you feel if someone took one of your prized possessions and trashed it or gave it away to someone else? My guess is, you wouldn’t be real thrilled! Remember, God says that you are one of His prized possessions!

2. Lordship: Jesus is Lord over all.

Today we’re bombarded with the idea that we have total rights to our lives. We hear, “You’re worth it . . . No limits!” Does God agree with these ideas?

The Truth is, “For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s” (Romans 14:8).

God has the right to regulate every area of our lives—including what we eat, drink, and wear. When it comes to our appearance, who or what controls what we wear? Is it the culture, our peers, or the media? Or is it Christ and His Word?

3. Citizenship: I belong to a different Kingdom.

If you traveled to a different country, you’d notice that the women wear clothing styles that reflect their culture.

As Christians, we don’t belong to this world. We’re citizens of another kingdom—the Kingdom of God. That means everything about us should reflect our real home.

That’s not at all what the world tells us. We read in magazines and hear fashion reports about what’s “in” and what’s “hot.” As believers, how should we respond? The question is, which kingdom do we want to reflect? The Apostle Paul says, “Do not be conformed to this world . . . ” (Romans 12:2).

I like the way The Message paraphrases that familiar verse:

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out” (Romans 12:2).