Dress To Reflect The Work God Has Done In Your Heart - Ecclesiastes 9-10

Ecclesiastes 9:8 (ESV)

Let your garments be always white. Let not oil be lacking on your head.

Before we read any verse in Ecclesiastes we have to read it through the lens of Solomon’s conclusion of the entire book:

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (ESV) 

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. 

In the above passage we read that through Solomon’s writings we are being told it is okay to have enjoyment in life.   It is okay and necessary to care for oneself.   The issue is not should be care for ourselves, but how and to what extent.   When man cares for himself in a way that brings glory to him, we have sin (Genesis 3).  But when man cares for himself in a way that brings glory to God, that is permissible.   This is what the above verse is implying in the context of Solomon’s entire work in Ecclesiastes.    David actually thanked God, in the midst of pain, for anointing his head with oil:

Psalms 23:5 (ESV)

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

Jesus was actually anointed with oil by a prostitute:

Matthew 26:7 (ESV)

a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table.

Being dressed in white garments has a significant mention in Revelation:

Revelation 19:14 (ESV)

And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

Revelation 4:4 (ESV)

Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.

Revelation 15:6 (ESV)

and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.

God wants us, each day, to represent Him.  Our clothes and anointing should be a reflection of our intent to do good works:

1 Timothy 2:8-10 (ESV)

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Dress on the outside to reflect the work God has done on the inside.