Modesty. This topic is widely debated in the church. There are so many different opinions about this topic, it almost makes me want to stay away from talking about modesty. But I think something needs to be said.

The problem with modesty is that people have forgotten what modesty truly is, and instead are believing myths about modesty.  Here are two common myths about modesty that many people believe:

Myth 1: Modesty doesn’t matter.

This myth is super common. A lot of girls don’t want to change what they wear, so they brush of modesty, saying that God doesn’t care about what you wear.  That isn’t true. Modesty matters.
But before I can explain why it matters, I need to bring up one more common myth you’ve probably believed yourself. I know I have. Here it is…

Myth 2: Modesty is about what you wear.

You’re probably thinking, “But wait, modesty is about clothing, right?”  While clothing plays a part in modesty, it is not the core of modesty.

Dictionary.com defines modesty as “the quality of being modest; freedom from vanity, boastfulness, etc. Regard for decency of behavior, speech, dress, etc. Simplicity, moderation.”

Modesty applies not only to how you dress, but also to how you speak and act. And you know what? Modesty comes from the heart.

1 Timothy 2:9-10 “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

As godly girls, we are to be clothed with good works, and a gentle and quiet spirit. Our actions, words, and clothing are telling the world something about who our Father is. Let’s represent Him accurately.

What does modesty look like lived out? Well, modesty in behavior means our actions are always God-honoring. It means we are serving others instead of ourselves. It means we’re looking for opportunities to show God’s love, and taking them whenever we have an opportunity.

Modesty in speech means we are speaking humbly about ourselves, we’re encouraging others through our speech, and we’re praising God in what we say. We’re also choosing not to take God’s name in vain, because that doesn’t show Him honor.

Modesty in dress means we aren’t using our clothing to draw attention to our body, but using our clothes to draw attention to our face. Dressing modestly doesn’t mean you can’t dress well. Dressing modestly means that with every outfit you put on, you ask, “is God pleased by what I’m wearing?”

So, what is the point of modesty? The point of modesty is to glorify God through our dress, words, and actions. And God is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise!

With love,

Kelsey