Proverbs 31:30: Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
I love this scripture. I truly believe that every woman who embraces it and every man who is in love with a woman who embraces it has true joy and peace and knows one of the great blessings of knowing God deeply.
This scripture keeps me focused on what really matters in life: knowing God and fearing Him. No, not fear as in FEAR and TERROR and being scared, rather, fear as in AWE-STRUCK, fear as in AMAZED and FULL OF RESPECT, fear as in complete devotion and understanding that our Maker is real and the sole source of life itself.
In a world that promotes exterior beauty, it's a relief to know that "man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart". It's a theme throughout the bible that I embrace and am devoted to. I wish every woman embraced it because far too many (in fact, most) women base their feeling of self-worth on "looks".
Being young and beautiful is a multi-gazillion dollar industry (I was going to say multi-billion dollar industry but that's far too conservative, I'm sure). We're told to restore our youth with this product, make our hair shinier with that product, get liposuction and breast implants and other surgeries to perfect our bodies, and on and on and on.
As a professional photographer, I photograph some amazingly beautiful people (physically speaking) and it AMAZES me that so many men, women AND children tear themselves apart in their photos! WHY??? Why do we only see our physical imperfections? Why does our world and our society base status and beauty primarily on looks?
We've become obsessed with our looks. Women are told as little girls by the media and their own friends and family that beauty is external and perfection in physical appearance is to be valued and desired.
Sad. So, so sad.
I guess I see it more than most because of the beautiful people I photograph and I'm simply amazed that so many tear themselves down and "see" themselves differently that they really "look" to others. But deeper than that, it's even sadder that we miss the most important thing of all:
Beauty is not about beauty as man sees it.
Beauty is TRULY what the heart looks like. It's the inner peace and joy that pours out from a person through words and actions and an indescribable aura that makes people just want to be around that person. TRUE beauty comes from the deep love you experience when drawing near to the Lord...and in turn, your heart is changed and made new each and every day!
Show me a woman that walks daily with the Lord and prefers to be with Him more than anything else and I'll show you a truly beautiful woman. Show me a man that walks daily with the Lord and prefers to be with Him more than anything else and I'll show you a truly handsome man. Show me a child that walks daily with the Lord and prefers to be with Him more than anything else and I'll show you a truly gorgeous child.
Physical beauty isn't to be desired...fear of the Lord is to be desired. THIS is what lasts. Physical beauty NEVER lasts---it fades---man can try all he wants to preserve it, but it doesn't matter anyway!
Again, I quote:
"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." Proverbs 30:31
AMEN, sister!!!! Amen.
Posted by: JD | March 23, 2008 at 09:08 PM
Beautiful...
Posted by: Amanda Reed | March 24, 2008 at 09:06 AM