essay
UNFADING BEAUTY
- UNFADING BEAUTY “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)
- This “advice” from Peter is both Biblical and practical!
- Vanity Fair states that women in the U.S. spend $17 billion each year on cosmetics.
- The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reported that in 1997 there were 2.1 million cosmetic surgeries performed in the U.S. In 2011 the procedures increased to 9.2 million.
- Madame Noire states that American women spend one-half trillion dollars each year on hair care.
- Women also spend millions of dollars each year on fashion, clothes, jewelry, exercise machines, and diet programs.
- In spite of spending all this money, physical beauty still fades: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” (Prov 31:30)
- The withering hand of time is relentless! Peter, however, reminds us that holy women in the past made themselves beautiful by their behavior (1 Pet. 3:5). Praise the Lord, the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit is “unfading”. A former Mrs. America was asked the difference between “Miss America” and “Mrs. America”. She replied “cellulite”. Since she was a “former Mrs. America” she spoke from experience. No matter how hard we try, the smooth skin we had as infants will disappear. At some point in the aging process we will all grow old and die. While “outwardly” we perish, “inwardly” we can be renewed every day (2 Cor. 4:16). That’s why godly women concentrate more on their “inner self” than on their “outward adorning”. Peter mentions Sarah as a good example for all women. Even though she was still physically beautiful at the age of 65 (Gen. 12:11 - 20), her relationship with her husband was far more important than her physical beauty. Peter wanted all wives to be submissive to their husbands as Sarah was to Abraham ((1 Pet. 3:1 - 6). Such beauty never fades. Modern women are not the only ones interested in outward adornment. “The Lord says, the women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, 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 ankle chains 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.” (Isa 3:16-23) Please note that their ungodly behavior brought upon them judgement from God. Their fragrance would be replaced with a stench, their sash with a rope, their well dressed hair with baldness, their fine clothing with sackcloth, and their beauty with branding (Is.; 3:24, 25). Paul wrote: “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Tim 2:9-10) The goal of everyone, whether male or female, should be to please God and not man. In this way everyone can obtain beauty that never fades and treasures that last forever!