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(This post is NOT for all. It is specific to the SAVED - meaning a female who has had transformation of heart by the word of God. I pray this message moves you toward the next level in your walk with the Lord. I pray that the Lord will minister to your heart through this post and grant you the gift of total SANCTIFICATION (being set apart unto the Lord) to live a HOLY life to the Lord from within AND without in Jesus' name.)
(Published by: The Deeper Christian Life Ministry, P.O.Box 3816-00200 Nairobi. Tel 020-778 133, Opposite City Stadium, Behind Shell Petrol Station, Shaurimoyo. Quotations are from King James Version except otherwise stated.)
(Understanding the apostolic teaching on plaiting the hair)
‘Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty that depends on jewelry or beautiful clothes or hair arrangement. Be beautiful inside, in your hearts, with the lasting charm of a quiet and gentle spirit which is so precious to God.’ (1 Peter 3:3, 4 Living Bible) ‘And the women should be the same way, quiet and sensible in manner and clothing. Christian women should be noticed for being kind and good, not for the way they fix their hair or because of their jewels or fancy clothes.’ (1Timothy 2:8-10, Living Bible)
The focus of these Bible passages is good conduct void of external adornments. The Roman women were fond of crisping and curling their hairs in the most variegated, complex and expensive way. Likewise the Grecian and Asiatic women are very extravagant in attire and hairdo. The apostle therefore warned Christian women not to imitate or copy them. When women spend much time, money and attention on decorating themselves, it is a painful proof they lack commitment to uplift what is precious in the sight of God namely - character. All the ornaments on the body and head of the most illustrious female are in the sight of God of no worth but a meek, quiet, kind and compassionate heart are invaluable in the sight of God because that is a reflection of His nature and an evidence of true godliness. Moreover, this inner beauty (character – which produces good works) will survive the ruin of the body and external attire in time and in eternity. It will also attract reward from God. (1 Peter 3:4, 5; Proverbs 31:10-31; Ruth 2:12)
The externality of excessive hairdo which the apostle referred to as plating the hair is the process or result of coating the hair either with a thin layer of metal – silver or gold; or spraying with divers color which Jesus indirectly disapproved. (Matthew5:36) Externality may be a means of attracting men or may recommend the female folks to men but not to God. Attaching ornaments such as gold, silver, pearls, beads etc to your hair to make it glister; attaching artificial hair, threads, wools etc to make your hairs look longer or fuller than how God made it; applying chemicals that change the natural color and texture of your hair like those who bleach their skin in pursuit of beauty only reveal the measure of your interest in vainglory. Painting your face, lips, eyes brow or any other part of your body and wearing artificial ornaments is at best an expression of contempt to the competence of your Maker.
The Bible says, ‘Let us not be desirous of vainglory, provoking one another, envying one another.’ (Galatians 5:26) ‘Let nothing be done through strive or vainglory: but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.’ (Philippians 2:3) ‘Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.’ (Proverbs 31:30) ‘Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.’ (Ecclesiastes 1:2; 12:8) Godly women should pursue things of eternal value, ‘which in the sight of God is of great price’ (1 Peter 3:4) rather than transient earthly glory.
These artificialities further show who and what you truly love in your heart, whether God or the world. The Bible says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) What is in your heart – the love of God or of the world? As you decorate your daughter with artificialities, what are you training her to become – a vain or virtuous woman? These are evidences that you love the world and not the LORD.“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he/she that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 John 2:16, 17) Is it your desire to abide in God’s kingdom forever or pass into judgment of eternal perdition?
As a woman, whose attention are you seeking, who do you intend to please?(Romans 7:22; Psalm 1:2, 3) Do you want to please God, yourself or the world?It is written, ‘Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ,’ (Galatians 1:10 NIV) ‘So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.’ (Romans 8:8) The counsel of God to believers is: ‘…we beseech/beg you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.’ (1 Thessalonians 4:1)
What a wonderful and insightful interpretation of God's Word! May we women professing godliness not be fond of using "artificialities" to beautify our external but may we abide by the Bible's standard of beauty in all circumstances in Jesus' name.
Be abundantly blessed!
Be abundantly blessed!
-Charity
Beautifully said, means a lot. Just when I wanted to put perm. Thanks
ReplyDeleteAw hi Kristie! Praise God - I'm happy to hear that! :)
ReplyDeleteOf course, we shouldn't be labeled and known for how extravagant we dress, but for the inside. But I hope that people won't misuse the Word to say that we sisters in Christ can't dress nicely and neatly... About the "artificial ornaments", can you go into detail with what that actually means relating to now and days dressing? I'm asking because I use headbands, pins, etc and I've always thought that if it's not too flashy on my head, it's modest.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much my sister for visiting the blog and for your question. When the topic of modesty comes to mind I always think of the motive behind doing everything. My goal in all I do is to glorify God. So I always question the benefit and motive of all that I do and put on my body. Personally, I used to use headbands to decorate my hair, but I got to a point where the Lord convicted me that such decorations are unnecessary.
DeleteMy hair is already beautiful as He made it; I don't need further decoration. In terms of pins, I don't know if we are talking of the same pins but I do use 'bobby pins' in my hair. However, the purpose for using the pins in my hair is to hold my hair in place when I do a certain style. This goes back to "motive and benefit." Also, Isaiah 3:16-24 talks against the vanities of the daughters of Zion; verse 20 specifically speaks against the "headbands" of daughters of Zion. Again, begin to question the reasoning for doing everything. The using of headband is it just merely to decorate the hair or does it have a more important purpose? Talk to God about it and allow Him to lead you aright concerning this matter.
I would also like to add that in no way should Christian sisters look boring and unattractive in our dressing. Exodus 28:2 says "And thou shalt make HOLY garments for Aaron thy brother for GLORY and for BEAUTY." As representatives of God we must dress in a manner the exalts the KING we serve in all GLORY and BEAUTY without compromising HOLINESS, MODESTY and SIMPLICITY.
May God help us.
God bless you sis,
-Charity