It Starts Small

AS we continue our Journey into godliness we have so far looked at the definition of godliness, the characteristics of godliness, the prerequisites to godliness and the barriers of godliness. Now we look at ways godliness influences us and those around us.

Today’s scripture is in the middle of an interesting set of scriptures that Paul was influenced to write. Let’s look at all of it together:

 ⁹ Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, ¹⁰ but with good works, as is proper for women who profess to worship God.¹¹ A woman is to learn quietly with full submission.

1 Timothy 2:9-11

Dress yourself with good works.

This really stuck out to me. I believe Paul is saying, instead of focusing on clothing, hair and jewelry, we should be focused on gathering for worship and serving. There is NOTHING wrong with a godly appearance, but Paul says that we need to be careful that we do not ger caught up in it.

Paul is gently telling us that instead of putting our energy and anxiety into what we wear and what adorns us, we should focus our attention on good works. Hebrews 11 includes women in the list of faithful followers of God.

By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had promised was faithful.

Hebrews 11:11

By faith Moses, after he was born, was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict.

Hebrews 11:23

By faith Rahab the prostitute welcomed the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

Hebrews 11:31

We can read the books of Ruth and Esther and find wonderful influential women who were godly and faithful. The story of Hannah (1 Samuel 1:1-20), Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist and Mary, mother of Jesus are great examples to us of godly women. All of these women were highlighted as godly women.

Many of the early followers of Jesus were women and women were the first to see Jesus after His resurrection (Luke 24:22-24). Paul later mentioned the good works of widows and encouraged the rich (which included women) to be rich in good works (1 Timothy 6:17-18.)

I do not believe Paul is putting women down for wanting to have a nice appearance, but Paul says, let your good works, godly characters and behavior, and faithfulness be the most attractive part of who you are. Peter also encourages women to focus more on the inward, and not to try and impress on the outside.

³ Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, ⁴ but rather what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵ For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.

1 Peter 3:3-6

Peter encourages women to let the beauty of their hearts shine. Notice he says, “the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit.”

When we pursue godliness instead of worldliness, are hearts get focused not on people pleasing and impressing others, but on serving others. Godliness focuses on thanksgiving and contentment with who we are and what we have now and not on keeping up with Sally next door or doing works to impress and get attention.

Today, let us reflect in our hearts where our focus is. Is our hearts focused on serving or having?

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