1 Timothy 2: 9, 10, “likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.”
When we hear the word modesty, our first thought is usually about how women should or shouldn’t dress. While modesty does address the way we choose to clothe our bodies, it isn’t just about clothing. It’s a reflection of who we are in Christ.
Modesty isn’t just for women. Men can be immodest, also. But women are more prone to immodesty than men are. Since God created us, He knew this about us so it is specifically women the Lord addresses concerning modesty.
To the world, living and dressing flamboyantly, saying or doing things to draw undue attention to ourselves, is encouraged and admired. Without Christ, we’re all self-focused. We want attention. We desire to be admired, praised, and applauded. But when we’re part of the body of Christ, that can no longer be our goal.
When we are drawing undue attention to ourselves, we are encouraging the focus to be on us, not on Christ. This is the essence of immodesty. We cannot please our Savior by seeking to draw attention to ourselves, rather than to Him. When we do so we are seeking our glory rather than Christ’s. That’s normal for unbelievers. Shouldn’t believers be different?
Luke 6: 46, “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Modesty has fallen out of style because the church looks so much like the world. Touting greater numbers in our pews, we’ve incorporated the world’s ways into our own. We didn’t do this because we thought it would honor Jesus, but because we thought it would make us relevant. But the only one we should care about pleasing is the One who died for us. If we’re not willing to do things the way He has commanded us to, why do we even bother calling ourselves after His name?
John 14: 15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
To be His follower means we do the things He commands us to do. We act as He would have us act. Speak as He would have us speak. And, yes, we are to dress as He would have us dress. If we find ourselves justifying doing otherwise, we need to do a spiritual heart-check. It just might be that we’re more relevant to the world–and it to us–than we might have thought possible.
God commands women to be modest and if we are to be pleasing to Him, we must give prayer consideration as to how His command applies to each one of us.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Photo by Kristina Paukshtite: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pink-petaled-flower-112324/
