What is Modesty?

3/13/06

What is Modesty?

Do you have a relationship with Jesus Christ? If you have a relationship with Christ, your heart should be in the right place. If your heart is right, it should show through the way you dress, look, speak, think, and act. Let your light shine!

So, what does God have to say about modesty?

1 Timothy 2:8-10 says, “I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.”

God desires for us to wear modest apparel (clothing) that is proper for women (and girls!) professing godliness. So what really is modesty? Strong’s Greek Dictionary says the word “modest” used in this passage is “kosmios”. This means “decorous: - of good behavior, modest”.

Webster’s Dictionary defines modesty as having a regard for decency of behavior, speech, and dress; showing yourself to be humble; and not being showy or drawing attention to yourself.

So, we can say modesty is acting, behaving, speaking and dressing “well.” 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We should dress in a way that is glorifying to God.

Here’s a question we can ask ourselves about our clothing: What does it make others think of me?

Titus 2:5 says, "The young women to… to be discreet, chaste.” Strong’s Greek Dictionary describes ‘discreet’ as (sound) in mind, that is, self controlled (moderate as to opinion or passion): - discreet, sober, temperate. It defines ‘chaste’ as innocent, modest, perfect: - chaste, clean, pure. So, the Bible tells young women to be discreet, and chaste – or, self-controlled, and pure. Our dress should reflect that.

1 Peter 3:3-5 says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather, let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands…” It’s precious in the sight of God to have a gentle spirit, rather than being beautiful on the outside. We should spend our energy on our heart, rather than make a big deal about impressing people by what we wear on the outside.

We shouldn’t be trying to dress “sexy”. What kind of people dress in a suggestive way? Do you expect people whom you consider Christ-like to dress in a suggestive way? I would encourage you to read the entire passage of Proverbs 7 (Don’t worry; it shouldn’t take long). God is warning about a woman dressed like a harlot, who led many men into sin. Proverbs 7:10 states, “And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.”

What you wear - will it cause somebody to stumble? Now you could say that if someone lusts after you, it’s his own problem. That is not what the Bible says. The Bible says, "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumble, or is offended, or is made weak." If someone struggles with sin, we should try to prevent them from getting the temptation in the first place.

Matthew 5:28 says, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” So, if someone even lusts, it is just as bad as if he had committed adultery anyway!

Romans 14:13 says, “Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.” We wouldn’t want someone to sin, or to want to sin, do we? We shouldn’t want to. God says we shouldn’t.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Our body belongs to God, and, if we are Christians, our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We should want to glorify God. We should want to glorify Him not only in the way we look, but in the way we look, talk, act, and even think. We should do it to the glory of God.

Not only women or girls are supposed to be modest. Men and boys are too.

Priests had to be modest. The temple wasn’t supposed to have steps by which the people could see under their robes. Exodus 20:26 says “And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed on it.”

Exodus 28:42 says, “And you shall make them linen trousers to cover their nakedness; they shall reach from the waist to the thighs.” We understand from this passage they were to cover themselves to the thigh.

Here’s a good question to ask yourself: What am I thinking while I am buying or putting on this clothing? Am I trying to look “fashionable,” “hip,” or “sexy”? It is fine to try to look nice, attractive, and fashionable. But, it’s a different story when you know something is fashionable, and yet it’s also immodest.

Are you encouraging modesty and purity? Or are you neglecting it?

Is your heart right? If not, do you want to know more about it? If you would like to know more about having a relationship with Jesus Christ, please talk to your pastor, church elder, or any other church member.

Thank you very much for reading my article on modesty! I hope you enjoyed
it and learned something from it.

-Kitty B.

Note: All Bible verses and references are taken from the New King James Version (NKJ)