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Modesty is an attitude.
I Timothy 2:9-10 "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."
Today's society encourages women to be bold, brazen, and self-confident. I remember years ago seeing teen magazine articles that actually explained how to be a flirt! That is the opposite of how a lady should be.
Modest dress must go hand-in-hand with a modest attitude, which the above scripture calls shamefacedness and sobriety.
Shamefaced means bashful or blushing. A true lady has a sense of propriety that keeps her from gazing into the eyes of a man who is not her husband, or from carrying herself in a way that draws attention. She is mindful of how she sits and stands, and is careful not to incite the curiosities or desires of men. Her attitude is shamefacedness, not boldness.
Sobriety means calmness, coolness. I know a pastor's wife whose face is the picture of sobriety: her expression is habitually sweet, and her serenity influences everyone around her. She does not get ruffled when things do not go the way she planned. She is never boisterous and loud, but carries herself with an attitude of sobriety.
An attitude of modesty is so important! A woman may try to make an outward show of modesty, but if the attitude of her heart is not modest, it will certainly show. Here is how God sees it:
"As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion." Proverbs 11:22
Let us examine our hearts before we examine our wardrobes. Do we enjoy drawing attention to ourselves? Is our attitude modest?
(Read Part III HERE.)
3 comments:
Hi Tammy, Thank you for your comment.
I guess I'm lucky in that I do not not like to draw attention to myself. To be a young person (which I am not:o)...)in today's world, it is extremely hard to be modest. If they are out to get a husband, maybe being more modest would attract that right one!
Well, enough said! Good job, Tammy! True modesty can definitely be seen in the entire package. You are right and I believe the only time a Christian lady should be bold is in witnessing. I have had to learn not to be as outspoken as I once was but much of that has just come though growing in the Lord and learning more about submission that I wasn't taught as I was growing up.
Modesty in attitude really is the hardest part of modesty for me. I grew up in a non-Christian home, very far from the Lord and church. I was often encouraged to try to be cheeky and the center of attention. I'm not blaming anyone for how I behave because my actions are my own. As an adult, I am constantly reminding myself (and very often failing) to be more quiet and that the whole room doesn't have to listen to me. I'm just being honest. I've asked the Lord to help me for several years in this and He's helped a lot. But, old habits die hard!
Great post!
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