Appearance
I have started in 1 Timothy recently and when I first read chapter 2 I was hit with a curve ball. Paul starts off by writing about worship and how we should intercede in prayer for everyone. He then gives a charge to men:
“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”
This charge is simple to understand for the most part, but it is the next verse that made me wonder why it is here the first time I read it.
“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
When I read it again this morning I had a slightly different take. After reading through some commentaries on this chapter it became clear that both of these charges were set to help both men and women worship God wholly. My first reaction when reading the charge to the women was so they would not distract the men by their dress. But a commentary broadened this and said it was more so it would not offend the people that could not afford fancy clothes and jewelry.
Even today we [men and women] must take this to heart and not make worshiping our God a public display of wealth by the clothes/accessories we wear. I will be the first to admit that I enjoy a nicely pressed Express shirt, but what would it look like to take your dress into consideration as part of your proclamation of Jesus Christ?
This passage helped remind me that while I might worship in song on Sundays, my life, each and every day should be a life led of worship. This includes my attitude, words, actions and appearance.
