Self-Packaging and Comportment (1)

by Pastor Faith Oyedepo, Week 2, November, 2006

Hello Reader,

Last week I began teaching on a series on how to comport yourself as a single, desiring a marriage partner. Several singles are desirous of being located by someone, but, their comportment has always stood on their path. To attract someone for the purpose of marriage, there are several things you must pay attention to, which will be the driving force for the miracle you desire. We saw last week that your thought sets a pattern for every other thing in your life. If you set your thoughts right, then you are on the right course.

Today, we want to consider some other things also in line with comportment. Like I said last week, how you comport yourself will determine people’s response to you. A man of wisdom said, “You are a walking message system seen before you are heard”. So, you must:

Dress Right!

A wise man once said “The way you dress, is the way you are addressed”. This is very correct. It is generally believed that the way you dress is an expression of your nature. When Queen Esther needed to obtain favour from her husband the King, she knew that her dressing was very important. She could have chosen to dress anyhow, perhaps even in sack clothe and ashes, like the Jews generally did, to express sorrow in their heart. After all, the man was her husband and she needed him to understand her state of heart. But, no! She knew better. Her sorrow must first be covered in an apparel of beauty, to make a more lasting impression.

The Bible says: Now it came to pass … that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king’s house … and the king sat upon his royal throne. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther’ and what is thy request’ it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. (Ester 5:1-3). One look at her, all gloriously dressed, and the door of favour opened up to her.

If you have the nature of God, then your dressing should reflect the God you serve – who by the way, is a lover of beauty and at the same time a holy God. The Word of God says: Let all things (including our dressing) be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians14: 40 (KJV). But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way (NIV). Let your moderation be known unto all men, the Lord is near (Philippians 4: 5). Three words stand out clearly in all these passages: orderly, decently, and moderation. In other words, show restraint in your dressing. What you must understand is that your dressing is the first impression you make on the minds of the people you meet. Another wise man said, “You don’t have a second chance to make a first impression!” When what you wear is decent, you earn the respect of those around you.

In the Old Testament, we see how Rebekah took a veil and covered herself (Genesis 24: 65). Covering herself was a symbol of her respect for Isaac and her own self-respect. As a single lady, no serious Christian young man is likely to see a girl who dresses indecently and perceive her to be a woman of honour. You are a woman of honour, look it! The same holds true for men. No young lady will be attracted to a man who goes about roughly dressed in dirty jeans or un-ironed clothes. It simply portrays dirtiness or laziness at keeping your clothes clean.

When Joseph was called by Pharaoh, the most powerful man in their days, the first thing he did was to change his clothes. The Bible says: So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh (Genesis 41: 14). His dressing contributed to the honour and favour he came in contact with. It is definitely your turn for honour and favour!

Even Jesus Christ who was God in person, paid attention to the kind of clothes He had on. The Bible records: When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” (John 19:23-24). His clothes were too precious to be divided in pieces. So, the soldiers decided to cast lot to determine who gets to have it for good.

Good dressing is not dependent on the quality of the fabric or the brand name it bears. It is purely dependent on how you the wearer comport yourself as you wear it, and how decent you look in the clothes worn. There are a lot of people who put on some very expensive clothes and yet devalue the clothes, because the clothes do not suit them. So, it is not in the quality but in your comportment and outlook as you dress up.

The Bible speaking in Romans 4:4-5 says: Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Doing the right thing is not a function of strength but of grace. It takes the grace of God to know what is right from what is wrong. Until you receive this grace, try as hard as you may, you will never attract the favour of men. Therefore, you must sincerely desire of God, an out pouring of grace for performance.

Grace is the exclusive preserve of the redeemed of the Lord. Redemption only requires that you invite Jesus into your heart as your Lord and personal Saviour. This you can do right now by praying this simple prayer with me with faith in your heart: “Dear Lord Jesus, I come to You today as a sinner. I believe You died for my sins and rose on the third day. Forgive me my sins. Cleanse me by Your blood. I accept You as my Lord and Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You Lord for saving me!