Topic

Clothes

Dressing in God’s Style

Leanne rang her friend’s doorbell for the second time.  “Hurry up, Michelle,” she exclaimed, when the door finally opened.  “We’ve got to get to the mall before they sell all of the cool new jeans I’ve been wanting!”

    Michelle laughed, “Leanne, Leanne…all you like to do is shop!  Hey, help me carry this box to the car and then we can go!”  

    Leanne sighed impatiently and lifted her side of the box.  “What’s in here anyway?  This is heavy!”  

    “I’m dropping off some of the clothes that don’t fit me anymore.  The community center that my church runs is always in need of “gently” used clothing,” explained Michelle.  “I really appreciate getting hand-me-downs and thought someone else my age could use mine.”

    Leanne raised her eyebrows and turned down her mouth.  “Yuck!  Wearing someone else’s clothes!  So that explains why your clothes aren’t in style.”  Leanne knew her face was turning red.  “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings, Michelle, you always look nice!”

    “Let’s go!”  Michelle smiled across the car at Leanne.  “You didn’t hurt my feelings!  On the way I’ll tell you why I dress the way I do!”

What is God’s Style?
God loves beautiful things!  All we have to do is look at a field full of purple flowers or find a rainbow after the rain.  God is The Creator and He invented the cotton plant that our favorite T-shirts are made from.  Without God’s design we wouldn’t have all of the unique colors we love.  But God cares more about what’s on the inside.  The Bible says, “Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel (clothes) – 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”  (1 Peter 3:3, 4, NKJV).  It sounds like God would rather us have a sweet attitude than wear the fanciest clothes.

I feel bad because I don’t have the money to buy the latest styles.
Jesus promises in the book of Matthew that He will give us clothes!  “So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin: and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (clothed) like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field…will He not much more clothe you…(Matthew 6:28-30, NKJV)?  God will supply all of our needs and we all need to have on clothes!  The Bible also says that “…be joyful in my God;  For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation.  He has covered me with the robe of righteousness”  (Isaiah 61:10, NKJV).  The clothes God gives us may not be the latest fad but it is pretty nice not to have to worry about having what we need.  God will provide for us – He promised.

What does it mean to be modest?
According to the Encarta Dictionary:  English (North America)  Modesty means:  “unwillingness to draw attention to your own achievements or abilities.”  If we wear clothes that draw attention to ourselves then we aren’t being modest.  Sometimes girls dress a certain way to make boys like them.  Boys might dress in clothes to make them get noticed by girls.  We might buy a stylish outfit to get noticed by our friends at church.  God wants us to be noticed but not in the way we might think!  Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16, NKJV).  Jesus wants us to shine for Him!  We should show the love of God to everyone we meet.  Doing kind things for others is letting our light shine.  Another chapter in Matthew talks about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked and visiting those in prison.  Jesus said that “…Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”  (Matthew 25:40, NKJV).  We’re actually helping Jesus when we help others!

“Do you see?” said Michelle and she and Leanne finished carrying the box of used clothes into the community center.  “I want my light to shine for Jesus more than I want people to notice my clothes!”  

Leanne smiled.  “I do see and I know where we can get a lot more “gently” used clothes!  Would you like to help me clean out my closet?  I want my light to shine, too!  The mall can wait!”