School has started and the fast continues. Though I am past the fast on Clothing from week 2, I feel urged to share what it was about. There are all kinds of scriptures about clothes and adornment. I chose 7 clothes to wear for the entire week. (Undergarments do not count....don't even start.) Shoes count as 1 item, and no jewelry except wedding ring. I honestly did not think this will be a big deal to me. I am not a fashionista by any means. I have tons of costume jewelry that just sit in a drawer. But after reading the scripture I felt God speaking to me straight from the pages of the Bible. I had no issues with wearing 7 items for a week, but it was the message behind it that stirred my soul. God was telling me: Let's get real Nikki.
We have a default reaction to the poorly outfitted and the favored dresser. I've heard it only takes us a half a second to judge someones entire character based on their appearance. Let's continue to be honest here, we all want and thrive on being able to chill and converse with those above our rung, those who fit the status quo and those who 'have it all'. Appearance makes our chance to move up increase, it's just the saddened reality of the flesh.
We have all heard the story once about a rich man and a poor man walking into a facility and the poor man treated badly while the rich man is favored. Be honest, we all do it without even realizing it. It is the sin of the flesh. We assess others social status, well being, health, even humility and selfishness all based on their outward appearances. James:2 cautions us in being judgemental saying that if we really Love our neighbor as our self we are doing right, but if favoritism is found you sin. Whoever keeps Gods law yet stumbles at one point is guilt of breaking all of it. Just like this morning, getting ready to take my husband out for his birthday lunch and watch the Gator Game with friends. I found myself analysing the people who were going to be there and that was how I judged what I was actually going to wear. That was how I was going to fit in with the crowd...... (Stupid Nikki.) But us women are so guilty of it and don't even realize we are doing it. What the world! I unintentionally judge myself and others based on appearance.
I love the question Jen Hatmaker puts in the study here:
Have you ever showed favoritism based on someones appearance? What were the circumstances? Or maybe the flip side: have you discredited or ignored someone based of his or her poor appearance?
Lay the hammer down my friend. The flip side got me. Guilty. In our society today we play both the rich man and the believer in the story. We have came to the conclusion, 'My clothes say something important about me. I can draw the eye. I could be shown the special attention. I could get a good seat.'
There is nothing wrong with being beautiful or showing the creative flair God blessed you with. Clothes are a way of showing that uniqueness and our personalities. But like anything else, it can be misused. Food is readily abused and as a result we have sickness, overweight, obsessed, and overall are unhealthy. 'God created sex as a beautiful expression, but need we discuss how we've exploited this gift? Influence, authority, wealth, position, ecological resources, power, biblical knowledge....all gifts, all capable of heinous misuse.'
Our culture spends so much time, money and energy on clothing.
Once upon a time, ...a productivist capitalism prospered by meeting the real needs of real people....Today, however, consumerist capitalism profits only when it can address those essential needs have already been satisfied but who have the means assuage "new" and invented needs...The global majority still has extensive and real needs...But it is without the means to address them, being cut off by the global market's inequality....from investment in capital and jobs that would allow them to become consumers.
Yeah, I had to read it a couple times. Basically, the market meets the basic needs of the people. The third world has life, health, and family needs, but no consumer power. Thus the Big Market pretty much turns to your wallet making up stuff to entice you to need/want more (ex. sugar water, bleach pens, collagen moisturizers) with full disregard to the people who are dying for lack of basics.
Leaving us with needy without income and wealthy without needs. The market must grow or expire. 'If the poor cannot be enriched enough to become consumers, the grown-ups in the first world who are currently responsible for 60% of the worlds consumption, and with vast disposable income but few needs, will have to be enticed to shop. ' The result? Our closets overflowing, shoes piled high, scarves, jewelry, hats, house decor, all overwhelming our space.
My problem, I over rationalize everything. That cute little outfit for the baby? No big deal. The pretty pink dress for my girl (despite the 20 other ones in her closet already) it'll be alright. Those shoes, well they are only 7 bucks, how can I not? I like it all. They are cute. I want them. All of these thoughts while the battle of injustice rage on the children in third world countries.
The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgement against the elders and leaders of his people: It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses, What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor? Isaiah 3:13-15
My house?...the plunder for the poor? Guilty. We enjoy rank and privilege. Everyone does. The entitlement also bears the responsibility to the poor. Power blinds us. It keeps us from scrutiny and repentance. This is where is I was blind. The devil is good, so good at using this to block the average everyday Christian Joe. Isaiah 3:16-4:1 was no joke when he threw it out on the line:
The Lord says, 'The women of Sion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles. Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion; the Lord will makes their scalps bald.
It continues saying that the Lord will snatch away bangles, headbands, necklaces, chains, sashes, perfumes. And replace them with stench, rope, sackcloth, they will be branded. In that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, "We will eat our own food and provide our own clothes; only let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!"
See the link between outward description and inward disease? Vanity is blinding us. Love the bangles, sashes, flaunting it around, ......but what lies underneath? Inner wounds and heart full of sickness.Women want to be seen, even desired. Sadly caring about all the wrong things:
Religion, not justice; self-advancement, not orphans and widows; wealth, not worship; pride, not humility; shameless sin, not repentance. (Isaiah 1-3).
God ain't (I live in the south people) playing games. Obviously according to scripture he is serious, this is no joke. I'd prefer not to have all this scrutiny, but Father, let it rain.
Best part about this is, with God.....there is always forgiveness.
Isaiah 1:18-19,27
Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land. 27: Zion will be redeemed with justice, her penitent ones with righteousness.
God. Is. Holy. SO. HOLY.
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