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 Devotions

Modesty

23/8/2025

 
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; 
But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1Ti 2:9-10
One of the first things the Holy Spirit began to convict me of after my salvation in 1978, was the clothes I wore. I was in my twenties, and my usual attire was jeans, and some kind of top, but they many times were tight, and too revealing. It was the trend for girls and women then, as it is now-no one thought anything of it. But, as I began to read and study the bible, the clothes I still wore began to trouble me, when I'd choose something to wear out in public. An uneasiness about them started to bother me, and I knew it was because they were inappropriate for a woman who called herself a Christian. God was beginning to speak to me and convict me that I needed to make changes in the clothes I wore in public, and not draw attention to myself, especially in an sexual manner. So I began to go through my closet and drawers and eliminate the clothes I knew had to go, and replaced them with items that were modest, and didn't draw attention to myself. Over the years, I've purchased very nice blouses, suits, and dresses which Lynn used to compliment me on, and he'd say I had good taste in what I chose-this is what mattered, knowing he noticed the change, and liked what he saw. The Lord let's us know when our obedience is making an impact.

Unfortunately, over the years, I've noticed that people have become very lax in their overall appearance, when they go out in public. They don't seem to care what messages they are sending, with the clothes they are wearing, but, it's sad to see. It leaves the impression of no self-respect for themselves, or the impression they are leaving with other's who see them. God does care, and speaks to us about it, because what we wear, is a reflection of how we take care of the body He's given to us. Some people take better care of their cars than they do their own bodies, both physically, and what they put on. It's also a reflection of our spiritual condition. God doesn't want us to be extravagant, but clean, and modest. But, modesty today seems to have gone out the window.

Below are some commentaries, and thoughts on this subject, that brings the importance of modesty home to us, and what God thinks of the subject of our wearing apparel. 
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​In like manner, that women also. When they come to the public worship, let them not spend their thoughts in adorning their bodies, but adorn themselves in modest apparel. In simple attire which not attract attention.

With shamefacedness. A shrinking from all that is indelicate.

Sobriety. Self-restraint; not yielding to vain impulses.

Not with braided hair. The Gentile women were much given to arranging the hair in plaits over the head, with bands of gold. Such vain and idle show at worship is forbidden, as well as the wearing of pearls, or costly array. At the house of God a display is not comely. Compare 1Pe_3:3.
But. There is another adorning which better becomes godly women. Let their lives be adorned by kindly, helpful deeds. (B.W. Johnson)
The world, as God has made it, is full of beauty, and he has shown in each flower that he is not opposed to true ornament. There are multitudes of things which, so far as we can see, appear to be designed for mere ornament, or are made merely because they are beautiful. Religion does not forbid true adorning. It differs from the world only on the question what “is” true ornament, or what it becomes us, all things considered, to do in the situation in which we are placed, the character which we sustain, the duties which we have to perform, and the profession which we make. It may be that there are ornaments in heaven which would be anything but appropriate for the condition of a poor, lost, dying sinner on earth.
​
In modest apparel - The word here rendered “modest” (κόσμιος kosmios), properly relates to ornament, or decoration, and means that which is “well-ordered, decorous, becoming.” It does not, properly, mean modest in the sense of being opposed to that which is immodest, or which tends to excite improper passions and desires, but that which is becoming or appropriate. The apostle does not positively specify what this would be, but he mentions somethings which are to be excluded from it, and which, in his view, are inconsistent with the true adorning of Christian females - “broidered hair, gold, pearls, costly array.” The sense here is, that the apparel of females should be such as becomes them, or is appropriate to them. The word here used (κόσμιος kosmios), shows that there should be due attention that it may be truly neat, fit, decorous. There is no religion in a negligent mode of apparel, or in inattention to personal appearance - anymore than there is in wearing gold and pearls; and a female may as truly violate the precepts of her religion by neglecting her personal appearance as by excessive attention to it. The true idea here is, that her attention to her appearance should be such that she will be offensive to no class of persons; such as to show that her mind is supremely fixed on higher and more important things, and such as to interfere with no duty which she owes, and no good which she can do, either by spending her time needlessly in personal adorning, or by lavishing that money for dress which might do good to others, or by neglecting the proprieties of her station, and making herself offensive to others.

With shamefacedness - With modesty of appearance and manner - an eminent female virtue, whether in the sanctuary or at home.

And sobriety - The word here used means, properly, “sanity;” then sober-mindedness, moderation of the desires and passions. It is opposed to all that is frivolous, and to all undue excitement of the passions. The idea is, that in their apparel and deportment they should not entrench on the strictest decorum. Doddridge.

Not with broidered hair - Margin, “plaited.” Females in the East pay much more attention to the hair than is commonly done with us. It is plaited with great care, and arranged in various forms, according to the prevailing fashion, and often ornamented with spangles or with silver wire or tissue interwoven; see the notes on Isa_3:24. The sense here is, that Christian females are not to imitate those of the world in their careful attention to the ornaments of the head. It cannot be supposed that the mere braiding of the hair is forbidden, but only that careful attention to the manner of doing it, and to the ornaments usually worn in it, which characterized worldly females.

Or gold, or pearls - It is not to be supposed that all use of gold or pearls as articles of dress is here forbidden; but the idea is, that the Christian female is not to seek these as the adorning which she desires, or is not to imitate the world in these personal decorations. It may be a difficult question to settle how much ornament is allowable, and when the true line is passed. But though this cannot be settled by any exact rules, since much must depend on age, and on the relative rank in life, and the means which one may possess, yet there is one general rule which is applicable to all, and which might regulate all. It is, that the true line is passed when more is thought of this external adorning, than of the ornament of the heart. Any external decoration which occupies the mind more than the virtues of the heart, and which engrosses the time and attention more, we may be certain is wrong. The apparel should be such as not to attract attention; such as becomes our situation; such as will not be particularly singular; such as shall leave the impression that the heart is not fixed on it. It is a poor ambition to decorate a dying body with gold and pearls. It should not be forgotten that the body thus adorned will soon need other habiliments, and will occupy a position where gold and pearls would be a mockery. When the heart is right; when there is true and supreme love for religion, it is usually not difficult to regulate the subject of dress.

Costly array - Expensive dress. This is forbidden - for it is foolish, and the money thus employed may be much more profitably used in doing good. “Costly array” includes that which can be ill afforded, and that which is inconsistent with the feeling that the principle ornament is that of the heart.  (Albert Barnes)

When either women or men spend much time, cost, and attention on decorating their persons, it affords a painful proof that within there is little excellence, and that they are endeavoring to supply the want of mind and moral good by the feeble and silly aids of dress and ornament. Were religion out of the question, common sense would say in all these things: Be decent; but be moderate and modest.
​(Adam Clarke)
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