Designer Sin: Clothe Yourselves In Humility

I have thought about something lately which is somewhat confounding. In cultures of every age—not by any means limited to the affluent—there has been surfacing a prevailing phenomenon in which both sexes have participated. Quite frankly it has become acceptable even more so today than probably ever before (especially where a middle class exists or credit cards are attainable). I am talking about clothing; that is, that clothing, something given to mankind because if sin (Gen. 3:21), which is used as a means of garnering attention from others. (I do not claim this to be a profound thought, but I do find it fascinating).



How can this be? How can the thing covering our shame be an object of pride and greed? It is because of the pervading sin deep within. Here we see our sin compounding itself and breeding prideful boasting—that is, that the garments we wear should win the attention of others thereby temporarily satisfying our lusts of self-adoration. Designer jeans, sunglasses, blouses, Armani suits, Tiffany jewelry, pseudo-Louis Vuitton purses—you name it we have flaunted it to the belittling of others and for the ignition of their jealousy. It is the compounding of sin upon God-despising sin.

Kingdom Humility

Let this be the way the world operates, brothers and sisters. Do not let it be the way communities within the Kingdom of God operate (i.e. churches). How do we fulfill the blessed commandments (Jn. 13:34-35; Gal. 5:14) when we provoke jealousy and covetousness amongst the redeemed of God!? That is not a Kingdom community. By these kinds of sinful and rebellious acts we simply prove that divine change has not come to us.

Clothing can be fun and exciting. Nevertheless, let us remember that we clothe ourselves to cover our shame and there is nothing to be proud of there. We are now and in the future to be clothed with Righteousness (Is. 61:10; Rev. 19:8), so let modesty be our goal; modesty of the heart. Let us stir up love by how we dress (1 Pet. 5:5).