Does God care about what we wear?
He does. Can we chat about it today? Maybe you already know this, but need a gentle reminder?
The first example that comes to my mind is Adam and Eve, in the book of Genesis. They had eaten of the “forbidden fruit” and realized they were naked, which resulted in them hurrying to sew a few fig leaves together to cover their private areas. Itchy, scratchy fig leaves. Ouch. What were they thinking?! Maybe they were in a hurry to have some sort of covering? Desperate, maybe?
At least they knew. At least they felt a bit of conviction in their heart.
Then God stepped in, and He helped them with a perspective shift. He first addressed their disobedience, their heart issue… and then He extended grace by creating new clothing for them.
He didn’t ignore their disobedience; after all, they did eat of the ONE tree in the WHOLE garden that He’d asked them not to eat from. He did give them consequences for their actions, which echo still today.
And while I find the account of Adam and Eve heart-breaking, I also find joy in their story, because God stepped in and showed them where to go from here.
He showed them their minor covering — their fig leaves — weren’t enough. They needed more. It wasn’t what they thought that mattered, it was what He thought. They thought they were clothed, but He said they needed more clothing.
And so He made them new coverings, “garments of skin” as the Bible tells us. Many Bible scholars say these coverings were tunics of sort, translated from words that referred to ancient articles of clothing that extended from around the neck/collarbone area to at least the knees. They were longer, thicker, more modest than what Adam and Eve thought was necessary. God’s plan was different.
Maybe this happens with us still today?
We think modesty doesn’t matter, and God doesn’t really care what we wear, or that we’re covered enough, and if I’ve “got it” I should flaunt it… But that’s not what we find in scripture. We find God’s perspective is very different than our human reasoning. We’re continually encouraged in various passages (1 Timothy 2:9 quickly comes to mind) to wear “modest apparel” and also to have a right heart.
May I insert a quick personal thought about modern swimwear? Why is it acceptable, even appropriate, in our culture for men and boys to wear knee length board shorts and rash guard shirts for swim sports and sun protection, but so many women and girls within view are scantily clad in swimwear that has the same amount of coverage as underwear?
I struggle to understand how boys are often covered from the neck to the knees in cute rash guard sets… but then our young girls are encouraged to bare it all for the sake of the beach or pool.
I can’t tell you the many times I’ve been told that a little more coverage, a little more fabric, would be too much fabric to swim in, although most boys successfully swim in more fabric all. the. time.
To me, this isn’t only a Biblical modesty issue, it should be an issue for moms and dads everywhere.
It’s not about what we want, or what culture tells us is acceptable, it’s about a Godly perspective and what He desires from us. Sometimes we get off track and confused, especially in hot summer months. Maybe the abundant sunshine clouds our thinking. Maybe we just need a small reminder, a small nudge to be directed back to His Word today. Lord, help me to think like You. Help me to honor you with all my choices, even my clothing choices. Help me to have Your perspective.
I love knowing that His grace for us is this: He replaces our little offering (fig leaves) and gifts us with more than we expected. He fixes our heart, forgives, and set us on the right path. He doesn’t walk away; He walks with us, and even carries us when we need it. He’ll grow us and teach us His ways, if we’ll let Him. Out of our teachable heart will flow careful, prayerful choices.
He does care about what we wear, but He also cares about our heart. How is yours? Do you feel His gentle tug to do a mid-summer heart check today?
With grace,
RELATED: To the Young Mom with the Busy Toddler at Church
Does God Care About What We Wear? was first published on Like a Bubbling Brook.
Thanks for going there today! This message bears repeating for each new generation, doesn’t it …
Good stuff!
AMEN!!!!!! Thank you for this!
Great article, Jaime! It is a blessing to honor God with modesty in apparel as well as inward beauty.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by! It means so much… you are a treasure to me! <3
My daughter is 3 and I want to be very conscious about what I dress her in starting now. It bothers me how sexualized some of the clothing is even so young. I try to find that balance between stylish yet modest on myself and I want her to learn how to do that as she grows up
Wonderful post! I completely agree!
I need to do Al these listed .. But mainly its finding a quiet uninterrupted place and working less hours on my job …it will change soon ..thank you jesus
I started dealing with this with my girls at a young age. They want bikinis because other girls wear them. That seems to be the only reason! Thank you for addressing it!
Great post!!! yes God cares. I always tell my youth girls its called privates for a reason cover up. And then once I talk about how well mens memories are they are like “Oh man I am getting a one piece or a tankini now”
I think its important to talk about modesty with our kids but most importantly set the example.
Now that it is swim season I wonder about this a lot. My son is 12 mos now and going to the pool isn’t a big deal–for now. I wonder how to even navigate all the temptations and conflicts that can arise just by going to our public swimming pool! Much of this is what we teach them at home based on God’s word. This is a great reminder, Jaime!
Thank you for your article. May God continue to bless you.
I agree; it matters. Our outer selves reflect our inner hearts. God sees both, but man often just sees the outer. 😉
With teenage daughters,miss is an ongoing discussion. For a long time, modesty was the way to go…no questions asked. In fact, they felt more comfortable when covered. As they are older now … I find myself re-teaching. This is sooo good!
Great Post; much needed to help clarify and confirm what is important to GOD.
Awesome post! When we were growing up, my sisters and I used to find guy’s shorts that looked a little more “girlie” and just wear those with a tank top – we could swim great! 😉
This is a timely reminder for me now – peer pressure never goes away!
This is a tough topic to write about. I applaud you for going there. I find it interesting how every family and/or denomination, etc seems to have a different idea of modesty. So far, it’s fairly easy around here because my girls 8 and 11 feel better when their shorts aren’t too short and their swim suits cover well. The tough part will be as they get older and they want to be like everyone else. Right now, they don’t care to be like everybody else.
Jaime, you are right, modesty is a heart thing. Our bodies are not ours, they belong to God and He does care what we do with them. Thank you for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
Thanks much for sharing this.
Seting the example as a parent, and raising the God fearing child – pushes us to be mindful of also our outer appearances. Today, it is becoming more challenging as the internet and the strong will child teams up against what acceptable. But by God’s grace, we are able to equip them.
Thanks again.
Blessings on your ministry.
We really look at modesty as an investment we make in our daughter’s and other people’s sons’ future. It is an investment of time to hunt around and find modest clothing and not to settle for what the stores are selling. It is also an investment money-wise, too. We have always ordered her a special swimsuit that looks like a dress (it hits just above her knee) and she loves them. It does cost more money, but it is worth it to us. You can find many places online where you can order them.
What makes me sad is when parents don’t set the example which makes it only natural for a child to grow up without a thought about modesty! Tough world we are living in but for the Lord! Thanks for your heart Jaime!
wow! what a concept about clothes. Nice I love it.
I wear a rash guard top with a swim skirt and get lots of compliments on it. It looks modern and cute, but is modest and practical.
Look up surfing clothes. Many gals who surf wear more modest clothing, but it is cute, modern, and sporty and doesn’t look out of place or time.
My kids took swim lessons recently and the instructor wore a sporty (more coverage) one piece with board shorts over the bottoms. So much more practical (and no need to worry about shaving or waxing). Hate one pieces? There are tankini tops with shorts or even skirts or surf pants, the rash guard tops (I wear a bikini top under my rash guard. It provides support and coverage.)
As for God clothing Adam and Eve, I always wondered why because in marriage, between husband and wife, we can be naked and unashamed. I think He was setting a presidence for the future, when children would come, grow, and populate, that outside of the marriage bed (every day life) we are to be covered.
I tell my kids that the human body is the human body. God created it, male and female, and it is not shameful or secretive. If they happen to accidentally see someone nude, I do not want them to be ashamed of themselves, or find it so secretive that it becomes a powerful pull of lust (as I have seen happen especially among boys in ultra conservative sects). Instead, they are to realize that it is private and to be gentlemen (or ladies) and grant that person their privacy.
I do not hide human reproduction or puberty changes from my children. (Nor do I go into graphic detail). I tell them as much truth as they ask for. They know boys and girls look different. They know babies come out of vaginas. They know the basic idea of the mechanics of sex (living with farm animals took care of this). They have seen breast feeding. None of it is presented to them frought with fear and shame. All of it is God-created and good. But, I present it with a sense of sacredness and privacy and with the truth that none of it is to be exploited for personal lust and indecency.