Why Is Modesty Important?

Modesty.  It can be such a confusing topic.  The typical view of modesty, is skirts to the floor, long sleeves, and long braided hair.  Now there is nothing wrong with that at all!  But I think we have the wrong image.  Modesty isn’t making sure every inch of your body is covered.  Modesty is dressing according to God’s word.  It is dressing in a way that you’re not causing your brothers in Christ to sin, and fall into temptation.    There are a few videos out online that you can watch.  They are filled with guy’s thoughts on the topic of modesty.   Because it honestly does stand out to guys that us girls would take just a little more time in the morning to make sure that we aren’t distracting them.

The videos (Which I will link at the end of this post.) are something that I think every girl should watch.  I know that before I watched them I thought to myself that ‘Guys, don’t really care or notice.’ This isn’t the case at all.  It is a constant day to day, minute to minute battle for them.  When we walk around in short shorts, or low cut shirts.  It takes everything they have not to flow your thighs, and wonder what is under your shorts.  Or to follow the low cut top, and wonder what is underneath.  Now this isn’t anything against guys, it’s just how they have been made.   Since us girls already know that it’s a struggle for them, seeing as not every girl is going to take their struggle into consideration.   We should be willing to dress accordingly to God’s word.

Now you are probably wondering what God’s word has to say about modesty, and temptation, and tempting your brothers in Christ.  In Matthew 18:6 it says “but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”  Now that verse says a lot about causing one of God’s children to sin.   I mean that verse states that it would be better for you to drown in the ocean, then to cause one of His children to sin.     

Matthew 5:27-30 “You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.  And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”    

When we dress immodestly it can cause a guy to look at us in a lust full manner, and cause him to sin.  We see above in Matthew 18:6 that causing a child of God to sin is not something to be taken lightly.   I listened to a sermon recently that said the reason God is a loving God is because He tells us that we will be held accountable, and it will be considered adultery if someone even has lustful thoughts.  Because He doesn’t want us to get to the point of committing adultery.  

The Bible states that we are imitators of Christ.  We need to dress in a way that shows our love and dedication to serving Christ.  We can’t claim we love God and serve Him, if we blend in with the world around us.  We were born to STAND OUT!

Colossians 3:5-10 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.  Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.  You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.  But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.  Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. “

We can’t be an image of God, if we strive to fit in with the world.  Dressing modestly is NOT easy.  But It’s worth it.   It takes true courage to go against the ways of the world, and be set apart, in modesty, purity, and our faith. 

Guys are visual.  Their minds fill in the blanks; they don’t even have to try.  Because their mind automatically knows what should be where.  So although your pants/shorts are covering your rear, and although your shirt is covering your chest, their minds follow the lines of your legs, or the lines of your shirt.  They can’t help it because it is just how their minds work.   So let’s not make it any harder for them.   Proverbs 24:12 says “Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God, who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows what we know, and holds us responsible to act.“   Now that we know the struggle young men, and men in general go through; we are held accountable to take action.