Beauty Fix (part 3 of 3)

Mar19

As a beauty I’m certainly no star,

There are others fairer by far;

But my face, I don’t mind it,

Because I am behind it;

‘Tis the folks in the front that I jar.

Is it wrong to “jar the folks in the front?” Is it simply selfish or lax or inconsiderate to accept our imperfections and do nothing about them? As Christians, we must face this question in light of God’s judgment: Is it right or wrong to attempt to correct my appearance as I age, and to what lengths may I (or should I) go and be pleasing to my brethren and my Creator?

We must always ask ourselves, “Am I doing this to please GOD, or make myself feel better?” Is this really out of consideration for others, or is it to boost my self esteem and get praise of men? (1 Pet 3:1-5; Pro 4:5-9; Pro 16:31; 1 Pet 5:4; Pro 20:29) “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” (Pro 31:30-31).

  • “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:16-17).
  • “And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.       But thou didst trust in thine own beauty” (Ezek 16:14-15).
  • “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil 3:3).
  • “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.       As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them” (Psa 103:13-18).
  • “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Pet 1:24-25). See also Job 13:15 and Psa 147:7-11).

The apostle Paul reminds us of the infirmity in his own flesh and the purpose God intended for that thorn, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor 12:7-10). We do not want to be like the widow who is “dead while she liveth” (1 Tim 5:6).

We must not only consider our own consciences, but the effect our actions will have on others – for example: our daughters! Study carefully these passages: Rom 14:21-23; Rom 15:1-2; 1 Tim 4:7-9 and 2 Tim 2:20-22. Where is our focus, eternal or physical? Favor is deceitful; beauty is vain.

What is our responsibility?

To God

To our Family

Husbands

Children

To our Brethren

Where do we draw the line from makeup and a nice dress to plastic surgery?

Can we justify such as being for God? (e.g. what about Bikers for God?)

Consider the difference between dignity and honor (Pro 31:10-31) vs. flamboyance, modesty. Consider also the futility trying to stop the aging process, the eventual look being despicable – e.g. Elisabeth Taylor.

Read carefully and consider deeply the passage from Proverbs 31:10-31. Continually reflect on this woman of God and her emphasis in day to day living and relationships with others.

—Ferah Glott

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