Words of Help by F. B. Meyer

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Mar 25, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 12.

Words of Help

By F. B. Meyer

DRESS perplexes some and takes up much time and thought. It is a difficult subject, and yet there are several clear rules to guide a Christian girl. Do not dress showily, or extravagantly, or beyond your means. Do not dress in such a way as to call attention to any part of your figure, or to distort or alter it. Do not dress so that people will notice your dress more than yourself. Whatever makes others think of us, or us think of ourselves, turns our thoughts away from Jesus, and from better things. I think that there is no higher art for a Christian girl than to dress simply, quietly, and tastefully, as one who is careful of the body which Christ has given, but who is mindful also of the apostle’s words: “That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety.”

The use of ornaments is also a matter of great heart-questioning. Where there are doubts, the little trinkets should be laid aside, till the great Owner tells His servants what He would like them to do. It does seem strange that so much money should be locked up in articles of personal adornment, when the Lord’s cause is suffering for want of help! A Chinese Christian lady brought her jewels one morning to her husband, to build an opium-refuge; and when he expressed surprise, she said, “I have taken Christ for my adornment, and surely that is enough for any Christian woman.” Put on the Lord Jesus, dear sisters, and you will lose your taste for many things you now hold dear, as most girls would put away glass jewelry, if offered real gems. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be . . . the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” The woman who loads herself with jewels, confesses herself wanting in the jewels of the heart; but she who has these, troubles little about the diamonds or pearls of earthly mines.—Rev. F. B. Meyer, in Words of Help for Christian Girls.