A Reflection of the Heart

Modesty Part 1 - A Reflection of the Heart

"Immodesty catches the eye

Modesty catches the heart"

“You cannot be both holy and immodest”

I have heard women say that the Bible is not clear about how women are to dress or that God doesn’t care what we wear, but the Bible has given us a clear understanding of God’s desires for us.

Modesty is propriety in dress, speech, or conduct.

Let us look at some Scripture verses to see what God says about modesty and dress.

1 Timothy 2:9

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array .”

Here the Word tells us that women are to wear modest apparel. It goes on further to speak of a woman’s demeanor as well. Does this verse mean that women cannot braid their hair or wear pearls? No, it is saying a woman should not be wearing things to draw attention to herself. If I braid my hair to draw attention to my looks, I am doing it for the wrong reason.

1 Peter 3:3-5

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;”

“But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

“For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:”

While Timothy speaks specifically of clothing (apparel) here we find that Peter digs deeper. He says a woman should worry about adorning herself with good things. She shouldn’t be worried about her hair style, or her jewelry, or the putting on of certain clothes. In Timothy women are told to wear modest apparel. Here we are told to look deeper. Our main concern should be the “hidden man of the heart” and we should desire to have the “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit”. Having this spirit is very important. If we seek to honor and obey God we will develop that meek and quiet spirit. From this spirit our modesty will grow. I have heard many godly women say that as a woman draws closer to the Lord, her level of modesty grows as well.

Prov 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

Here in Proverbs we are told to keep our hearts because out of it are the issues of life. What are these issues of life? One of them is modesty. If we keep our heart, if we develop that meek and quiet spirit, if we have shamefacedness we will have a desire to dress modestly. We will desire to cover ourselves from the world. Notice verse 5 of 1 Peter 3. “ For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.”

What kind of women wore modest apparel and had a meek and quiet spirit? It was the holy women.

Many women claim to be followers of Christ but they dress like the world, sound like the world, and act like the world. But here we see that the holy women were different and it started with their spirit. These issues of life started in their hearts.

Are you obedient to the Lord? Do you seek to honor and obey him? Are you dressing for the world to take notice of your shape? Do you dress to enhance your physical features? If you answer yes to the last two questions you need to look at your heart, your desires, and your motives for dress.

Do others see you and act surprised that you claim to be a Christian or do they notice that you do not dress and act like the world?

How are you adorning your heart? For out of it are the issues of your life.