“Beauty is meaningless, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” Proverbs 31:30.
Each of us is born with gifts: athletic gifts, artistic gifts, academic gifts, gifts of leadership, job skills, people skills, physical strength, stature, height, and even gifts of appearance. Some people are simply born beautiful, and whether it seems fair, relevant, or important in any way, it is a type of gift. Just ask anyone who has lost their looks. Attractiveness can open doors and smooth introductions. Good looks are not enough to keep a relationship going, but they can get one started. Outer beauty will open doors.
And yet, we all know how meaningless looks are. There is no merit to appearance, no real value. You did not make yourself beautiful. Just as you cannot choose your height, you cannot choose your looks. And while you may be able to work out and diet and do a few things to improve your physique, there is almost nothing you can do to improve your face. Surgeons can enhance your looks at best, efforts that are little more than permanent makeup. Surgeons cannot turn a character actor into a leading man.
Attractiveness can be a useful gift, particularly for performers and those working in leadership or sales roles. But attractiveness can also be a trap, a stumbling block creating pride that can destroy not only human relationships, but our relationship with God. You must be on the lookout for pride and arrogance! Never let it gain a foothold in your life. Why? Because “God is opposed to the proud” James 4:6.
Read what the prophet Isaiah has to say about Israel’s beautiful but arrogant women. Not only will God destroy their looks, but He will destroy every beautiful thing that puffs up their pride, from perfume to purses. It is so important to stay humble!
“The Lord says, ‘The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the Lord will make their scalps bald.’
“In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils,the headdresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the signet rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
“Instead of fragrance there will be a stench;
instead of a sash, a rope;
instead of well-dressed hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothing, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding” Isaiah 3:16-24.
It is so important to remain humble! Preachers often describe Lucifer as the most beautiful of angels, but then he began to admire his own beauty, became proud, and rebelled against God forever. We must not do the same.
We must not give in to the temptation to take pride in our appearance.
God will not tolerate pride of any kind. He is opposed to the proud.
Are you prepared to have the God of the universe opposed to you?
Finally, consider Jesus’s warning for the rich. I think it applies to the beautiful as well:
“It is more difficult for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for [a beautiful person] to enter into the kingdom of God” Matthew 19:24.
AΩ.
Household Words: 