Modern society has a very specific idea of what the perfect woman should be – independent, outspoken, and unapologetically sexual.
We are surrounded by these values every single day.
But as Christians, we are not meant to blend in with the values of this world; we are called to live differently.
We set ourselves apart from the distorted beliefs of our culture, knowing that God’s plan for us is much better.
After all, we seek to please God and not man.
So how can we glorify God as women in today’s world?
First, we have to understand that our worth does not come from our appearance.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 says,
Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
1 Timothy 2:9-10
Now, scripture must always be taken in context.
This verse is not saying that it’s a sin to dress nicely.
What it is saying is that what matters most is not our appearance, but our heart.
Too often, we rely so much on makeup, jewelry, and clothing to make us who we are.
In reality, our identity comes from the way in which we love God and love others.
Our identity is found in Christ – and nothing, not even our culture, can take that away from us.
Titus 2:3-5 discusses how women, both young and old, are to live: “
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Titus 2:3-5
There is a running theme throughout all of scripture – this idea of building each other up.
Our cutthroat society teaches people to tear each other down, stopping at nothing to “rise to the top”. But here we see the kind of behavior that is pleasing to God.
We are meant to love each other and teach others to do the same.
There is one word in this verse that might cause many people to become angry: “submissive.”
But perhaps our definition of submission has gotten jumbled.
Submission is not an act of weakness; it is an act of kindness. And the reason is this: so that others can see the love of God in us.
Our culture tells us to assert ourselves; the Bible tells us to humble ourselves. And this command is for both men and women.
Humility is the key to godly living for any follower of Christ. It is not easy to be a Christian woman in such a time as this; but there is great freedom in choosing the righteousness of God.
And He will give us the strength and wisdom to live for Him in any circumstance.
