Today we’d like to share about beauty - what’s beautiful in God’s eyes, and in the eyes of those around you. And we’re also going to talk about those things that turn others off, that irritate and provoke... things we should purposefully think about and avoid.
We first of all need to realize that God has created us for a personal relationship with Himself. He loves you and He loves me... so much that He gave Jesus as the atonement for our sins. Do you know Him as your personal Savior? Because of Him, we are “accepted in the Beloved.” Secondly, it’s important for us to study and know who we are in Christ. He’s saved us, He’s called us, He loves us. We are made righteous and clean in His eyes through Jesus. We’ve been adopted, set apart, prayed for, given the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are forgiven, healed, redeemed, satisfied, renewed. As you read your Bible, take note of WHO you are in Christ! Meditate on it. Pray prayers of thanks. Let it sink down into your heart. (talk about His Princess book, by Sheri Rose Shepherd). Thirdly, you need to come to the place where you realize that you cannot change or control anyone except YOURSELF. Life is full of ups and downs. People will come and go in and out of your life. There will be frustration, joy, pain, and laughter. You cannot guarantee how everything will turn out! You can only be responsible for how you respond to what God allows. What does this mean? Well, the challenges you face today - a brother or sister who irritates you... a hard school assignment... sickness or pain... the loss of a loved one... an unsaved family member... trying to fit in... making friends... these are things God uses to shape you into the girl He wants you to become. A girl growing in character. A girl seeking God’s approval. A girl delighting in Jesus. A girl falling more and more in love with the Lord. A girl getting into God’s Word. A girl praying and listening to God. A girl that is willing to be used as God sees best. Surrendered. At peace. Beautiful!
1 Peter 3:4, let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. This is what God delights in! Invest time with Him!! Inner beauty, the hidden person of the heart (your desires, your emotions). Proverbs 3:5-6
...captivated by your life of holy beauty. What matters is not your outer appearance—the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes—but your inner disposition. Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in (the Message, 1 Peter 3:3-4).
As you grow into the girl God wants you to become (by praying through tough things... by seeking Him despite discouragement... by being grateful for who you are in Christ), you will become a powerful influence to those around you! This is what is so beautiful. It’s not merely you... but Christ in you, Who shines to those around you. He makes you a sweet fragrance! Read 2 Corinthians 2 :14.
What should we purpose to avoid? how about complaining? you know, a negative attitude is just as contagious as a cheerful attitude. (Pollyanna!) Do you tend to irritate others with your words? Do you find joy in seeing another becoming provoked??! Do you nag and nag, and then nag some more? Criticize? Do you act out of fear? What about acting out of envy or jealousy? These things will only push your family and friends, and even onlookers, far away from you. They create disappointment and discouragement.
Read Hebrews 3:13. You only have today to make a difference in another’s life. So do it!
--Ask yourself: what needs do I see around me? what can I do to help meet those needs? who can I encourage today? Write a note... send an email... make a phone call... talk to God about them. Can you see the blessing in the challenge you’re facing? How’s your heart (a glad heart is like a good medicine!)?
A Woman of Discretion: using wisdom to avoid damaging attitudes, words, and actions and giving insightful counsel. –avoid getting involved in fruitless and endless arguments. Value God’s Word. Discern needs around me. The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning - Prov.17:27
The key verse we want you to remember is from Proverbs 11:22, Like a ring of gold in a pig’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who rejects discretion (NET). What a lovely verse, right?!!!
Here are some other translations:
-As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman who is without discretion. Amplified.
-Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful face on an empty head. The Message
-[As] a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, [so is] a fair woman which is without discretion. KJV
-A beautiful woman lacking discretion and modesty is like a fine gold ring in a pig’s snout – The Living Bible.
Notes: physical attractiveness without inner strength soon wears thin. We are to seek those qualities that help us make wise decisions, not just those that make us look good.
Commentary—
How absurd to think that a ring could make a pig look beautiful!!! It’s just as silly to think that a woman’s physical beauty can excuse her lack of discretion (moral perception). Are you beautiful, but lacking in values and morals, thoughtfulness and love towards others? Then you’re just like the pig described here – kinda ugly.
What are others attracted to? People around you will not be interested in a “hot girl” who doesn’t have compassion and joy.
So!, a fair and attractive and beautiful woman – WITHOUT discretion is not a pretty sight!
The word “without” means to turn aside, depart, avoid, take away, dispose. This woman had been a discerning woman. But, she. left. it. She purposely turned away from discretion.
“discretion” is taste, discernment, reason, judgment. No moral sensibility, no propriety, no good taste, unchaste (not pure).
Remember this:
Favour [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain: [but] a woman [that] feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Proverbs 31:30
The way the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) translates this verse is:
As a ring of gold in a nose of a pig, so is beauty to an evil-minded woman.
The word for evil-minded in Greek (kakophrwn) is only used one other time in the Bible, also in the Proverbs of the Old Testament:
Proverbs 19:19 - An evil-minded man shall be penalized much; and he shall add even his life if there should be injury. (( “If you deliver [him by paying the fine for him once], you will have to do it again”)) Evil-minded, without discretion. You can't serve two masters! Either you're pursuing the wisdom of God's ways, or you're being pulled by the flesh. Submit to God! Resist the devil! Pray and ask God to help you desire to the wise, all discerning heart that He so delights to create in you.
The heart must be changed first, before any beauty can be a blessing to those around you! Seek wise, God-honoring choices. Do not turn away from solid truth. Live pure! Fear God! Let your beauty be from Him. Your physical beauty is a reflection - a glimpse of the beauty of your godly character and wisdom...and that is a reflection of God's ultimate beauty and wisdom and love. It's all a reflection - of something which is the greatest beauty. And it all points to God.
Beauty. Pigs. Discernment. Knowing who you are in Christ. Encourage. Reflect.
