1 Samuel 16:7
Over centuries of time fashion has changed! Often culture dictates what is appropriate and we see pictures of men wearing togas, tights or tams. Shocking as the differences may be, it might surprise some to realize that a woman going topless in a given culture, has nothing to do with sexual enticement, but is practical for frequent nursing of babies. That same woman would carefully guard her dignity by wearing a long skirt. I was fascinated to learn that in a culture of tree-dwelling people there were ladders for men, separate from ladders into the trees for the women, to prevent the possibility of men looking up a woman’s skirt. What is seen as modest varies from culture to culture. Different mores!
The Bible has quite a bit to say about clothing. Women are taught to dress modestly; as we have seen the definition of what is modest might vary from culture to culture. In his instruction re dress, the apostle Paul, sometimes thought to be controversial, recommends the focus of women is not on fixing their hair, jewellery, or even expensive clothes, but rather that they worship God with their good deeds. Women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do (1 Timothy 2:10). Paul’s concern was that more emphasis was put on how one looked, than what the heart condition demonstrated to God.
Great debates have taken place over women’s apparel. Should women wear hats when they pray? If this is a religious law, then many women would need to wear hats to bed. What should that hat look like? Should hair, which is a woman’s glory, show or should it be covered totally? In such discussion sometimes God’s focus is entirely lost.
What about men? Should they wear robes? Trousers? In some cultures men feather themselves, with the goal of being erotic. The question seems to be “What sort of image do we want to project by the way we dress?” James warns against honouring a man dressed in fine clothes, over a poor man (James 2:3). He would agree with Peter who says “Clothe yourselves with humility” (1 Peter 5:5). Paul is even more explicit: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Colossians 3:12).
There is nothing wrong with being well-dressed, but it is the attitude of our hearts that matters most in the eyes of God. The exemplary woman of Proverbs 31 was clothed in purple (a royal colour), and fine linen – signs of wealth, but she was also clothed with strength and dignity (Proverbs 31:22, 25).
Reflection:
What is the reason behind the way you dress? As followers of Jesus Christ, how should we dress? What should we wear? The Lord spoke to Samuel when he was sent to choose the next king of Israel: “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7) .
by Marilyn Daniels (marilyndaniels.net)
Inspiring Joy 