BEAUTY

Young and even older women tend to buy into what the media says about beauty.  The kind of appearance they speak of sells a superficial beauty—a woman of no substance who cares more about her outward appearance than true beauty.  As we learn from 1 Sam. 16:7, God does not see as man does; He looks upon the heart.

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:  for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.”

We all know people who care more for the appearance than the substance of a person.  And it doesn’t take long to find out if the soul is beautiful, words reveal what is in the heart. Beautiful clothes, the right make-up, and the right hairstyle and shoes make for a pleasant appearance.  We should all look our best, but the inner person is what is most difficult to beautify.

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the Word, they also may without the Word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or the putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”      (I Peter 3:1-4)

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain:  but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

(Proverbs 31:30-31)

“It is said “beauty is only skin deep.”  If you’re speaking of physical beauty, that is right.  That is why it is so short lived.  As it departs, it leaves behind marks that it has gone.  Spiritual beauty is different; it gets more attractive as the years pass.

In a counseling session I asked a woman to write down the most beautiful and lovely qualities a person could have.  She came up with this list:  tolerant, forgiving, merciful, unrevengeful, courteous, polite, thankful, kind, helpful, affectionate, understanding, humble, mild, faithful, trustful, unselfish, enthusiastic, cooperative, prayerful, not self-willed, not easily provoked.

Nobody could say a person with these qualities is ugly.  We can all be beautiful when we clothe ourselves with the beauty of holiness.”    ~ Leroy Brownlow

“She was beautiful, but not like those girls in the magazines.  She was beautiful for the way she thought.  She was beautiful for that sparkle in her eyes when she talked about something she loved.  She was beautiful for her ability to make other people smile, even if she was sad.  No, she wasn’t beautiful for something as temporary as her looks.  She was beautiful, deep down to her soul.”      ~ Unknown

 Eileen Light