By Raven Willis
Synopsis: Modesty reveals a lot about our true intentions. Christians must embrace God’s way of modesty to be a true example to others.
Modesty is defined by humility and decency in dress, language, and behavior. Instead of drawing attention to oneself, Christians (male and female alike) should learn to shift the focus away from self.
To be faithful followers of God, believers must express their modesty in the ways which God instructs. This applies to both men and women.
Modesty is a biblical concept. We should always want to elevate God and lower ourselves; however, this is a lot easier said than done. The idea of modesty is first expressed in Genesis 3:7 when, as a result of eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve recognized that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together to cover their nakedness because they knew they were immodest in the presence of the Lord.
Later in the Scriptures, Moses showed the priests what modesty should look like. “You shall make for them linen breeches to cover their bare flesh; they shall reach from the loins even to the thighs” (Exod. 28:42). Their clothing covered “even to the thighs.” This clothing was required to present oneself as holy when entering the Tabernacle, so the priests had to make sure their attire was respectful towards the Lord. Our daily dress should demonstrate our reverence to God. What better way can we, as Christians, show which master we follow than by dressing in a Christ-like manner? We should cover ourselves because it is a divine command and shows honor to the One we serve.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.” These verses do not teach that one cannot braid her hair or have nice things; rather, they teach us that what is inside matters the most. We should not be parading around trying to flaunt the money we possess or the body God has given us. Instead, we should praise God for what He has graciously provided by humbling ourselves and keeping our priorities straight. 1 Samuel 16:7 communicates that the Lord looks at one’s heart. Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Both concepts reveal God’s true feelings about what is most important to Him. From a biblical standpoint, a woman is beautiful if her heart is beautiful. God looks on one’s heart and not upon her appearance. One’s appearance sometimes reflects attitudes of the heart that are contrary to God. Unfortunately, we sometimes spend too much time focusing on things that contribute nothing to our salvation. We may even jeopardize that salvation. Since outward beauty is unimportant to God, why do we emphasize it so much, even as Christians?
It is important to note that modesty involves more than just one’s outward appearance, but is also reflected in our attitudes and actions. Modesty involves a sense of humility and self-awareness, recognizing that our gifts and talents are given to us by God. We should be used for His glory, not for making a fashion statement or attracting a man’s attention. Our dress should demonstrate a willingness to put the needs of others ahead of our own selfish desires, to serve and love others as did Christ. When one is truly modest acting with humility, one’s pride will be put aside in order to lift up others. It is crucial to maintain a heart of humility as our Lord requires.
Lust strongly plagues our world. Countless people wear revealing clothing that invites the eyes of weak and longing individuals. The story of David and Bathsheba is a great example of this. In 1 Samuel 11, David first saw Bathsheba through a window as she was bathing. What David saw evoked sexual passions. These caused him to spiral downward into committing many sinful acts. Lust may start as an innocent glance, but it can turn into an intentional gaze. As the story progresses, David went out of his way to seek Bathsheba. In the end, David had Bathsheba’s husband killed to cover his sin of adultery with the woman for whom he longed. David’s original intentions were likely not to murder a man, although the succession of events resulted in him doing so. We can apply this example to today. Lust may not lead us to kill another (although it may, as occurs in an unwanted pregnancy ended by an abortion). However, lust can certainly lead us down a path we do not want to travel. All of this began when Bathsheba was bathing herself where others could see. Even though she was not intending to sin, her nakedness still had a great impact on David. This example should remind one that what you decide to wear, or not wear, can lead to another’s temptation. As Christians, our example should encourage others to gravitate closer to God, not lead them further astray.
In our everyday lives, it is nearly impossible not to notice the immodesty that is ever-present. It has become “trendy” to wear less and less clothing. This should not be true for God’s people. The less clothing one has on, the more enticing that person is to wandering eyes. Christian men and women should wear appropriate clothing so that others will not look upon us with lustful longing. Not only this, but we also must guard against looking with lust upon others. As in the example of David and Bathsheba, he would not have gone as far as he did if he had not been looking at Bathsheba improperly. We need to be careful about what attracts our gaze—whether it be the people around us, the shows we watch, or the websites we visit.
Christians are supposed to differ from the world. We should have a light that is unlike those living for themselves. Romans 12:2 reminds us not to be conformed to the styles and ethical practices of our contemporary age, saying, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Our service to God will show others who we are and what God requires. That is powerful! As saved individuals, we should behave in ways that glorify our Heavenly Father. Just because the world dresses in opposition to what God wants does not mean we have to do the same. We should stand with God and not the unbelieving world. It should please us to do so, because Christians are made to be sanctified, i.e., set apart.
If one is tempted to dress immodestly, he needs to evaluate why he wishes to appear to people in this way. Are we seeking to tempt others to lust? Do we want to look like the world? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 reads, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body.” First, it is good to keep in mind that modesty is for both genders, as Paul is the one preaching this message. Second, since our bodies are not our own, we should not seek things to please ourselves, but we should be listening to God’s instructions for how we are to take care of the bodies we have been given. This includes how we dress. Christians must not follow the world, but follow God, since He is the one providing the way of escape. In conclusion, I want to leave you with this question: Is the world defining your dress—or is God?
