Vanity - To take pride in your appearance or achievements.
Trying to appear to be something you are not.
Vanity is a socially acceptable way of lying, it masks who and what you really are. It says to God You have made me repulsive to others and I need to modify my appearance to make myself attractive to them. In fact to God you are the most beautiful thing he made and by adding paint and trinkets you offend Him.
Who shall ascend into the hill of Yehovah? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands (outwardly), and a pure heart (inwardly); who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. [Psa 24:3-4]
Some find this matter controversial. Many believers in effect argue that vanity is perfectly acceptable. So it is explained here in more detail because it is far more important than many are willing to accept. God does not want us wearing masks and costumes, pretending to be someone we are not. He wants us to be happy with ourselves just as He made us.
Masks and disguises are used to hide insecurity, make you feel superior and to flaunt yourself. We need to get our security by being right with God. When God is pleased with you if someone looks down upon you or rejects you then they are disagreeing with God. They are the one with the problem, we should not try to appease them. We do not need to make ourselves look attractive by the ungodly practices of this world. God wants us to dress modestly, otherwise we just tempt the opposite sex to lust after us. The inverted vanity of wearing pre-stressed clothing that looks worn out does not honour God either.
Note that if a married man who looks at a woman for inappropriate gratification is considered by Jesus to be an adulterer then equally a woman who exposes herself and dresses in a sexually provocative way should also be considered an adulteress. Think about it, if it is not good for a person to see it, as it tempts them to lust, then it is not good for a person to tempt another by displaying what should only be appreciated by their spouse. So dressing immodestly by either sex is the equivalent of being promiscuous.
The apostle Paul exhorted:
… that women adorn themselves in modest (not sexually stimulating) apparel, with reverence (dignity) and sobriety (restraint); not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array (jewellery); But which becomes women professing godliness with good works. [1Ti 2:9-10]
The apostle Peter also exhorted:
… wives … 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 hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: [1Pe 3:3-5]
There are several more pertinent scriptures.
And it shall come to pass in the day of Yehovah's sacrifice (judgement), that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange (ungodly) apparel. [Zep 1:8]
The woman shall not wear that which pertains unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto Yehovah thy God. [Deu 22:5]
Your body is a temple of God. God does not want you to be dressed in an ungodly way.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [1Co 6:19]
While talking of appearance there is also another matter to mention in passing:
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. [1Co 11:14-15]
So, if a woman is free of vanity she will refrain from:
Body enhancements:
Lip stick, cosmetics, painted nails, body piercings, tattoos.
Implants, wigs, perms, hair extensions, beading and dyeing.
Body ornaments: earrings, jewellery, high heals.
Exposing her body through insufficient clothing:
Cleavage, shoulders, back, midriff, thighs, buttocks.
Revealing her body through immodest clothing:
Trousers, leggings, tight dresses, short skirts, shorts, bikinis.
After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and they realised they were naked, God made them robes/coats not micro swimwear!
This will not sound so extreme when you discover the joy of living to please God instead of those around you and your own insecurities. These practices will not be taking place in heaven. God does no want a woman to be eye candy. It is idolatry of her sexuality. Clearly the same principals apply to men too.
A woman may argue that some men will just lust whatever her apparel. However God does not approve when we make it easy for someone to stumble:
Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am Yehovah. [Lev 19:14]
And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling block out of the way of my people. [Isa 57:14]
These quotes above come from the Old Testament but this principle is emphasized further in the New Testament.
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. [Rom 14:13]
But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak … But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
[1 Co 8:9&12]
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence comes! [Mat 18:7]
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. [Rom 16:17]
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [Gal 6:7-8]
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