Allow Others to See Christ Through Our Self-Control

“⁸I desire that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; ⁹likewise 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, ¹⁰but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.” – 1 Timothy 2:8-10 (ESV)

This passage is often misconstrued in that somehow men are those that are called on to be the bringers of the gospel and women should be somewhere in the background supporting them. That could not be further from the truth in the way I understand it.

Paul is bringing attention to what is the important part in spreading the gospel, just that, spreading the gospel. The idea is to not draw attention to “ourselves” but to the gospel and the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. If I were to display “anger or quarreling” I am taking the attention off of Christ, who is love, and putting myself on stage for all to see. Likewise, women that get all dressed up with fancy outer coverings are drawing attention to themselves and away from Christ who was modest and simple in His approach.

Now don’t get me wrong, I do believe that I must be passionate with my love and devotion to Christ, and I should dress my best for Him. I have only to be careful that my passion and dress are for His glory and not to make me look or appear to be greater than I am, a sinner in need of grace. My actions and appearance should be to draw attention to Christ and not me. It is a sin for me to do anything that may cause another man to stumble and if those men or women are looking at me, then it is difficult for them to see Christ in me.

I believe we all should bring others to Christ and our actions and appearances have the chance to do just that or distract them. I choose to bring them to Christ and therefor will exercise self-control in my actions and appearance to be sure that others are seeing Christ in me.

Your actions and appearance, what do they say about you? What do they say about your relationship with Christ? Are you self-controlled so that the world will see Christ in you and not be looking at you?