Modesty Reveals Faith
What a person wears says a lot about them and their personality. In some instances, you can even guess the career of the person by what they wear ... scrubs for medical professionals, first-responder uniforms for police and fire professionals, and so forth. Worldly fashion trends aren't always modest, as God would have us dress. However, modest fashion apparel can be a powerful expression of faith, identity, and self-worth.
The Bible has guidance on how we should present ourselves and what our clothing says about our character.
1Timothy 2:9-10 - "... that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works."
Decorating one's self in worldly elegance is not important to God, so it shouldn't be important to us ... men and women both. That is not to say it's bad to "dress up" and look nice; merely that "looking nice" on the inside -- our heart attitude -- is much more important to God. If you are a born-again Christian, you were bought with a price. He paid the ransom for your sin and you are not your own. Our body is His temple now, and He wants us to honour it.
1Corinthians 6:19 - “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?”
Why are we so worried about what we'll wear for a special occasion, but we don't worry about what God thinks of our heart? Understanding God's teachings about how we dress helps us make choices that honor God and reflect His values. Both women and men who profess Christianity should be modest in their actions and apparel ... not distasteful.
The world says low necklines and high hemlines. God says high morals and He will exalt the lowly. Parents, if you are allowing your teens and pre-teens to dress like the world today, you are asking for trouble. Your roof, your rules!
Standards of modest apparel vary between societies, but women and men who intentionally expose their bodies to get noticed or to attract sexual attention are typically suffering from low self-esteem or poor self-image. True beauty is within, not without.
Romans 12:1 - “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Modesty goes beyond just what we wear; and it’s about showing respect for God, ourselves and others.
Modesty in our actions -- our behaviour -- is also important to God. He calls us to be humble.
1Peter 5:6 - “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”
Actively listening, giving credit to others, helping others without seeking recognition, accepting constructive criticism, acknowledging our mistakes, and avoiding arrogance are all characteristics of modest behaviour.
Modesty is ultimately about our hearts and how we present ourselves to others in the context of our faith. Show your true colors by striving to be rich in faith and becoming (if not already) an heir of the kingdom of God!
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