Australian Football League

This year, however, I heard the Brownlow called the Gownlow.

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Reference: I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2:9, 10 NIV)

Explore: Each year, at the end of the Australian Football League season, they have their big award ceremony. All the players come with their partners, walk the red carpet and sit through a night of voting to finally hear who was the best and fairest player from that year’s season.

It’s called the Brownlow, named after Charles Brownlow who was heavily involved in the League from 1880. This year, however, I heard the Brownlow called the Gownlow.

It was felt that there was more focus on the player’s partner’s gowns than on the medal itself. The televised red carpet show, where everyone entered into the event, was talked about more than the voting and outcome.

“Who are you wearing tonight?” “You look stunning, tell me about your jewellery.” “Which designer did you go with?”

People who have not watched a game of football all season are glued to the TV to see the fashion show on the red carpet.

Application: In our beauty conscious world we see this time and time again. Often the fashion overrides the fame.

Imagine if the world took 1 Timothy 2:10 seriously and people focused on adorning themselves with good deeds rather than elaborate fashion. Red carpet shows would certainly take a different twist:
“Who did you help today?” “You look generous, tell me what you gave today.” “Which fruit of the Spirit did you go with today?”

Visually it may not be so spectacular, but the stories people could tell would inspire the nation to focus on good, not good-looking.

Prayer: Lord, it seems that as soon as Adam and Eve ate the fruit we have been overly conscious of our outward appearance. May we be modest in our attire but elaborate in our good deeds. May people see our character before they notice our wardrobe. Amen.

What are you adorning yourself with today?

1 Timothy, actions, character, clothes, wear