Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.
PROVERBS 31:30 AMP
A multi billion dollar enterprise has been built on the make up and touch up business. The world has taught us that it pays to continually improve our outer man, without preferring any advice on how to secure the inner man. Generations of people and billions of dollars have been wasted on the false images of TV, movies and books.
Today's extract says it simply: 'Charm and grace are deceptive, and superficial beauty is vain'. Once the focus is on the outer man, it is a pursuit that will lead to emptiness. As long as the focus is on the outer man, you will never be satisfied because there will always be someone or something that looks better. It has also been said that 'Beauty is just skin deep'. I can look at someone and see simplistic beauty; someone else looks at the same person and sees flaws and ugliness. Would I then base eternal life on the basis of such unpredictable and flawed personal prejudices? Would I allow people's personal and sometimes jaundiced observations determine my life's worth? The focus must be on what is permanent and of eternal value.
Today's extract is addressed to women but I bet that the same principles apply to the men also. When I praise beauty, what is my focus: is it the physical or the inner? Does the inner shine out on the outer? As a man, have I also settled the right attitude, the right focus, the right priorities? When others come in contact with me, do they see true grace? His time of favour is here.
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