Clothing or Kindness

Bible Reading: 1 Timothy 2:9–10; 1 Peter 3:3–4

Sophie looked into her closet and sighed. School started tomorrow, but what could she wear? Her clothes were from the thrift store, and none were the brand names that everybody would be wearing. There were no cute new dresses, no stylish tops.

“Why can’t I just once have something fashionable to wear for the first day of school?” she whined to nobody in particular. She knew that her mom, a single mother of three, didn’t have extra money for popular name-brand clothes. But Sophie still didn’t like it.

That evening, Sophie was sitting on the couch, frowning at a book, while her mom worked at a desk nearby.

“Why are you looking so glum, Sophie?” asked Mom. “Is something wrong?”

Sophie set the book aside with a heavy sigh. “I’m going to look so dumb tomorrow. None of my clothes are even close to being cool.”

“I think your clothes are fine, Sophie. They look very nice on you.”

“But I won’t fit in with any of the popular kids!”

“Did Jesus fit in with the popular kids?” asked Mom.

Sophie stopped and blinked. She hadn’t expected that question, and she had to think about it. “I guess maybe He didn’t,” she finally admitted.

“He didn’t at all. In fact, the teachers of the law—the closest thing to ‘popular kids’ in Jesus’ time—hated Him so much they plotted to kill Him,” Mom told her. “They didn’t like the way He treated people who they thought didn’t deserve God’s love. People noticed him because of what he did, not because of how he looked.”

“And that applies to us too?” Sophie asked.

“Yes, it does,” Mom replied. “The apostles in the early church told Christian women not to wear expensive clothes and jewelry in order to stand out and make themselves seem better than others. It was their deeds, not their appearances, that should set them apart.”

Sophie smiled. “Okay, Mom. Instead of worrying about my clothes, I’ll ask Jesus to help me get noticed for showing others kindness instead.” Christiana Cudworth

How About You?

Do you like to follow the latest styles? Do you feel left out if other people are wearing brand-name clothes and you’re not? While it’s good to want to look your best, remember that Jesus didn’t stand out because of how He looked but because of the way He showed love and kindness to everyone. Trust Him to help you get noticed for who you are, not what you wear.

Today’s Key Verse:
1 Samuel 16:7 The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Put on kindness