The Mighty Message of Modesty

Here's an essay I had to write for my English book

The Mighty Message of Modesty

These days, “skin is in”. In other words, show as much as possible, and you'll be popular and beautiful. However, the Bible clearly calls women to be modest, in dress as well as action. Proverbs 11:22 says, “Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” In other words, a woman who is beautiful in all aspects, yet shows off that beauty in inappropriate ways, is thought of to be ugly! God sees immodesty in a beautiful woman like a precious gold ring, that is wasted by being put in the snout of a pig, an ugly animal by all standards! Even though dressing in ways that accentuate ones body makes one feel good, God is not pleased.

When a girl dresses in such a way that is not modest, the men around her struggle a lot just to keep their attention focused on God, and not the girl's body. When she dresses without propriety, she clearly violates the scripture about not becoming a stumbling block to her brother. (Romans 14:13) Instead she should dress in a way that would spur her brother on to love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:25)

On the flip side, when a girl dresses modestly, she is like a refreshing breeze in the midst of a desert. Like cool water to a parched soul. The Bible calls women to dress modestly, saying in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” Now, there's nothing wrong with wearing jewelry and braiding your hair, but in whatever you wear, you should strive to keep the focus off of yourself, and point others to God.

Modesty doesn't make one look ugly, even though it may not be the height of fashion. Instead, when you dress tastefully, it is pleasing to the eye and causes others to feel refreshed, instead of feeling disgusted.

Being modest is also living up to one's call to become the Bride of Christ, without blemish or spot. By dressing modestly, you are also bring the attention off yourself, and allowing others to see Christ in you. By doing this, you are honoring God, and will be rewarded. As Proverbs 31:30 says, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

Wouldn't you rather be praiseworthy in God's sight, instead of looking like a ring in a pig's snout to Him? I know I would, and I hope you will as well.