Elegance From Within

What label do you wear? Versace? Coco Chanel? LV? Prada? Payless?

Where do you shop? Saks Fifth Avenue? Dillard’s? Walmart? Aldi? 

Many people in the church have joined the people in the world in measuring elegance by the labels we wear, the cars we drive, the size of our bank accounts, the size of our homes, the friends we keep, the schools we attend, and even the relationships we enter. We are in this world, but we are not supposed to be of it!

Our yardstick as Christians must be different than nonbelievers’. The Bible is quite clear on this: Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:3-4 ESV)

As Christians, we must strike a good balance. We can enjoy the occasional material possession, but we must understand fundamentally that our elegance comes from within us. It starts with a good understanding of whom we are—and whose we are!

Before the fall in the Garden of Eden, the Bible tells us that Adam and Eve were naked but not ashamed. They had that genuine elegance from within. They were covered with God's glory, God's own designer label, so they were truly naked but were unashamed. After eating the forbidden fruit, they became conscious of their nakedness, prompting God to ask who told them they were naked. Their own attempt to dress with fig leaves was not good enough, so God, being good and gracious, decided to shed the blood of an animal and use the skin to cover them. The blood that was shed pointed to the future shedding of Christ’s blood for the remission of our sins—for our justification, our righteousness, and the restoration of our lost glory. Those who are in Christ have access to that same glory Adam and Even had in the Eden, when they were naked but unashamed.

We need to be aware of the wiles of the devil. Many times, he attacks Christians by condemning, criticizing, and guilting us over our past or present situations. His ultimate goal is to separate us from the source of our glory, which is God. As a psychiatrist, I know that one of the worst emotions is shame. Shame makes us hide from our family, friends, churches, and callings. Many women, even those with material abundance, do not feel at peace because of issues such as divorce, abortion, barrenness, past rape, marital status, or financial status. Some of these women live in the biggest houses and have the fattest bank accounts, yet they are so insecure! Their fine linens, Brazilian hair, designer shoes and bags, and expensive perfumes—it's all simply a façade. They are often insecure, even though to the ordinary eyes they look elegant.

Don't get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with wanting the finest things in life, as long as you are enjoying them and not stressing about acquiring them. Esther prepared herself with the finest oil and perfume before meeting the king, and Joseph cleaned up before meeting with Pharaoh, but both people met with God first. Joseph knew whose he was, and that is how he carried himself through all the years of adversity. Esther waited on the Lord before meeting with the king. Even the Bible says that people judge the external, but God judges the heart.

It is good to be elegantly dressed, but don’t forget that we make the dresses elegant, not the other way around. We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, ambassadors of Christ, and the apple of God’s eyes. We are blessed and highly favored. We are the ones who add value to the clothes, and not that the clothes add value to us. No, we add value to that home, that car, that restaurant. We are the carrier of God’s glory. I always tell my kids that they make the clothes look better, and not that the clothes that make them look better. I always remind them that their true value is from above! 

True elegance starts from within. It starts with fellowship with our Maker, with gaining familiarity with who He is and who He says we are. Elegance is guarding your heart and surrounding yourself with Godly friends who affirm you, not “friends” who condemn you. Elegance is beauty from within that radiates outside. No one can kill the light from within!

So, who do you wear? Prada? Gucci? Brahmin? Versace? Christ? Christ has favored and graced you, so please wear Him well!