One of the qualities of the famous Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 is her matured, dignified and respectable dresssence.
Our anchor scripture tells us that “her clothing is silk and purple “! In other words she had a dignified dresssence: she dressed like royalty! You couldn’t just look at her and disrespect her. You couldn’t walk past her and not be tempted to look back and steal one more glance at her; because she looked so respectably stunning.
Exactly what was the secret to her dressing in style and elegance consistently? It was this: she knew who she was: she was a “Woman that feared God”(Proverbs 31:30); a Daughter of the God of Heaven, a wife of the husband she adored and loved and the Mother of the children she cherished. These consciousness drove her dresssence.
As a Christian woman and wife do you know who you are? Let’s look at just a few of your identities.
(1) Revelations 1:6 tells us that Believers are Priests and Kings to God the Father.
So as a Christian woman, you’re not just another female. No. You’re a Royal Priestess and a King in the service of God Almighty; and a consistent awareness of this ranking should define your attitude to how you appear.
I am not British but from the pictures of members of the British royal family, I have observed that they’re always decently and properly dressed. They’re not feverish about current fads and fashion. This is because they never forget that they are royalty.
Similarly, a Christian woman and housewife must always bear in mind her status as a spiritual Priestess and a King in God’s kingdom service; and this should inspire her outward appearance.
(2) You’re A Wife To A responsible Man.
As a married woman, you’re way higher than whom you used to be as a Spinster. You now bear a man’s name.
This factor should shape your dressing. You need to always wear respectable attire that would attract honour to your husband rather than hisses and lustful stares from irresponsible men.
The nature of the Woman is such that her looks easily attract attention and what people see will either bring her husband honour or constitute an embarrassment to him.
A wife who respects her husband should have nothing to do with revealing dresses: wears that portrays the shape of her thighs, buttock or the ones that show her navel : all in the name of “fashion”.
(3) Your Status As A Spiritual Cathedral
Another factor that should guide you to dress in “silk and purple” is the knowledge of what your body now is as a Christian Woman and housewife.
Your body is now the temple of the Holy Spirit!(1 Corinthians 6:19). God dwells in you and walks and work in you!(2 Corinthians 6:16)
If members of the departments that take care of our church sanctuaries take time to clean the house of God and decorate it to look solemn and reverent; and ensure that it never resembles a Bar, a Tervan or a Night Club, how much more should you always endeavour to dress in such a way that you look reverent, pious and devout? This was how the women of old who feared God dressed and so appeared holy(1 Peter 3:5)
In conclusion, it’s important for us to note that the Virtuous Woman’s dressing in silk and purple shows that looking elegant and distinguished isn’t necessarily synonymous with carnality or worse still, worldliness.
Look good and great and still appear chaste and pure.
Look admirable and dignified yet not appearing wasteful and prodigal in the use of the financial resources that God has divinely entrusted to your trust and stewardship.
Finally, look good and yet ensuring that your real adornment isn’t just plaited hair and the colour of your skin but the ornaments of a meek and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4) and good works(1 Timothy 2:9-10)