Modesty

When one thinks of modesty, the first thing that comes to mind is a properly dressed young woman with her skirt length approaching the ankle. But consider this, a young woman's dress and a young man's clothing are both important items when we talk about modesty. Women are instructed in the New Testament on the proper manner of dress as in 1 Tim 2:9 "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." God made woman to be attractive to man and likewise man attractive to woman. What sets mankind apart from all other species on the planet is our ability to control our sexual desires.

In 2 Samuel 11:2 we see what happened to David, the great King of the old Testament when he failed to control himself when he looked upon the beautiful form of Bathsheba while she was washing herself. "And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her" (2 Sam 11:2-4). Do we blame Bathsheba for this sin or do we place the blame where it should be, squarely on the shoulders of David? What could he have done differently? Could he have turned around and gone the other way? Yes. Should he have inquired of her? No. This was his decision to proceed in sin and he had to pay the price for his sin. Could Bathsheba have taken her bath in a less visible place? Probably, but remember David had to be on the roof of his palace in order to see what she was doing. The sin was clearly his.

Some young men believe modesty is only an issue for young women, and are willing to risk causing young women to lust. Young men, realize if you cause one of these young women to sin because of what you wear, you are as guilty as they are. As young Christian men you should be concerned with your attire just young women are. It is up to each of us as individuals to help one another keep ourselves pure and ready for the return of our Savior Jesus Christ. Young men need to realize what kind of example they are setting for others, including non-Christians. We are to be the light of the world, a shining example of what Christ is. Immodest apparel does not show our Christian and non-Christian friends what it is like to be a Christian; it shows us to be hypocrites not worthy of being called Christians.

You must take responsibility for your actions on this earth, as Ezk. 18: 4 tells us: ". . . the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Is this what you really want? To stand on judgment day before Christ and try to defend the fact that you caused others to sin just because you wanted to show off your marvelous tan? Remember girls and boys are both susceptible to the lust of the flesh, both weak and need help to survive in this sin filled world. We don't want to return to the former times when the lust of the flesh ruled the world. "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:2-6). Let us not make it any harder to complete the race than it is already. Be ready to be raised up together. Please take this into consideration next time you're getting dressed to go out into the world.