Adorned in Dignity
This is a topic I have been sitting on for a while, to the point that I had a hard time finishing my study on Deborah (one day I might re-visit and put some more depth into her study..) but for now I want to point my focus on something different for the time being!
The King James Version (KJV) uses the exact word "dignity" only a few times (such as in Genesis 49:3 regarding Reuben or Ecclesiastes 10:6 regarding high positions), but the broader concept of human value, honor, and respect is found throughout scripture.
According to Merriam Webster, “Dignity is the quality of being worthy of honor, respect, or high esteem.” How does this describe us as Christians? Doesn’t the Bible tell us to be humble? Yes, but also we are His children, not like those without hope. This tells us how to put our Salvation and Sanctification in the proper place in life!
Before you are a teacher, leader, mother, father, daughter, son, etc, you are a Christian. Your Salvation should be you highest prioity!
Inherent Human Value
Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” This verse not only shows us our own creation but in whom we were created. God didn’t make monkeys and then from them He took inspiration to make us or vice versa, but instead he made us in His own image. Our purpose is rooted in those words.
Psalm 8:4-5 “What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” This is the high esteem that was mention in the definition, we are above the beast of the Earth and the fowl of the air, God put us in charge of the animals and left us with the abilitiy to choose Him! Yes we are below the angels but we have the ability to choose, they were simply made to worship Him. This verse also tells us that we are crowned with “glory” and “honour”.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” This shows us that no matter who we are, of which nation, which race, or which color, we are of equal standing in the kingdom of God, we are all his children in his eyes!
Personal Conduct and Honor
With dignity we are called to be respectful and be of virtuous living.
Romans 13:8-10 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Believers are commanded to honor all people, act with humility, and treat others fairly, mirroring God's regard for humanity. Colossians 4:1 “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.”
2 Peter 1:5 “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;” This verse outlines a step-by-step path for spiritual growth, showing that faith must be immediately backed by active, moral excellence.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This is the foundational New Testament blueprint for the mind, commanding believers to focus their thoughts strictly on noble and excellent things.
