Is wearing jewelry a sin?

q    Is wearing jewelry a sin?

aIn and of itself, jewelry is not “wrong.”

In Genesis 24:53 jewelry of silver and gold was given to Rebekah as betrothal presents by Abraham’s servant.

In Exodus 3:22, 11:2, and 12:35 Yahweh commanded Israel to borrow (actually take as payment for slavery) jewelry from the Egyptians, and in 3:22 they were told to put this jewelry on their children.

Jewelry was a token of Yahweh’s love for Israel in Ezekiel 16:11-13, which Israel wore. These included bracelets and necklaces, v. 11, and earrings, v. 12.

Proverbs 25:12 speaks of how earrings of gold enhance the ear.

Paul does condemn the wearing of jewelry in 1Timothy 2 when it was used purely to glorify self. He says the believer should be concerned with the important traits of a follower of Yahweh, like sobriety, modesty, and shamefacedness (Gr. aidos = modesty toward Yahweh, awe, reverence), which is absent from the person trying to enhance personal beauty, like putting lots of gold in braided hair (1Tim. 2:9).

Jewelry can be abused and misused, as the prostitute does, but it can also be a thing of quiet, simple beauty if the person is not wearing it to receive personal adoration. That means that moderation and restraint are not just expected, but demanded.

The True Worshiper in an age of self-glorification contends with the temptation to fulfill the pulls of vanity and self-worship. Our culture has strayed far from Yahweh in this regard, and the believer must counter popular trends by putting down self and glorifying the Father in heaven. Simplicity in appearance is a means to accomplish that.

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