As Creator and King, Jesus has complete authority over all humanity. He has the right to set the standard for marriage, parenting, morality, and daily conduct. He even has the right to tell us what clothes to put on our bodies (1 Timothy 2:9-10). Modesty begins with us submitting our hearts to God. When our hearts are humble before the Lord, it is not difficult to dress in a manner that brings Him glory. In 1 Timothy 2:9, Paul urges us to allow the principle of modesty to guide our clothing decisions.
Consider four questions we must continually ask ourselves if we will properly apply the general principle of modesty.
“Who is influencing this decision?”
- God allows women to “adorn” themselves as women (1 Timothy 2:9a). And yet, their adornment needs to be directed by the principle of modesty.
- “Modesty” is a word that refers to “shrinking back.” It carries the idea of us seeking to be proper, orderly, and doing our best not to get close to the boundary of decency.
- Modesty should also prevent one from dressing flashy and in a way that draws attention to themselves. This is what Paul means when he says, “not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garment” (1 Timothy 2:9b).
- If we allow entertainers and popular fashion experts to set the bar for our attire, that bar will be low. It will not lead us to submit to God’s standard for modesty.
- God has called us to a higher standard than the world’s (Romans 12:1-2).
“Is this clothing encouraging or discouraging lust?”
- We currently live in a culture saturated with lust and sexual sin.
- Jesus warns us that these things can cause us to lose our souls (Matthew 5:27-30).
- This was a battle that Job waged daily (Job 31:1).
- While men should train and discipline their eyes, Christian women are also responsible for dressing modestly.
- If we know that our attire will draw attention to body parts that others are not supposed to see, we don’t need to wear it!
“What does this clothing say about me?”
- God wants His people to make inner beauty their primary focus (1 Peter 3:1-4).
- Our clothes testify to the world about faith. They announce if we are truly committed to living a godly life (1 Timothy 2:10).
- Jesus commands us to be mindful of our influence on unbelievers (Matthew 5:16).
- Our attire should be in harmony with a transformed life (Romans 12:2).
“Is God pleased?”
- God put 1 Timothy 2:9-10 in the Bible for a reason. This issue of modesty is important to Him. It is information from heaven that can help us please Him at the highest level (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
- Since this matter is important to God, it should also matter to us! It should be something that is constantly on our minds.
- We need to train our children on how to dress modestly. We need to hold one another accountable to be the principle of modesty (Titus 2:5). We need to allow others to help us be modest.
Conclusion:
Are you submitting to Jesus as King in every part of your life?