Proverbs 31:30 AMPC
[30] Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!
The verse above is taken from the words of king Lemuel, and is part of the prophecy that his mother taught him. Not much is said of him in the bible, or even about his mother who taught him this prophecy, but the words have been preserved for generations, and they have now become inspiration and guidance for as many as seek to know God's mind on the order of priorities. Who says a person has to be popular and known by the world in order to make a mark on the world? All that matters is that the person places him/herself in the hands of the potter, and allow Him work that which is His perfect will. There will always be no regrets when there is total submission to the will of God. It is not a wonder that the boy Lemuel became King Lemuel. As seen in the verses before today's extract, he had been given the right information that would help him rule well.
For all who are current or aspiring parents, or guardians who have been given the awesome responsibility of nurturing young minds and hearts, how are you preparing the right way for the challenges that are ahead? It is also important to consider that the name Lemuel means 'belonging to God', which is another lesson for us as we consider the words of today's verse. The parents who gave the boy Lemuel his name had an understanding of the spiritual implications of a name, and were careful to give him back to the Lord, the source of all good things. I have to be clear that everything that I have or hold isn't actually mine to use as I please, but as God, the real owner, pleases. This understanding will help me put things in the right place, and treat them the right way. Once God occupies the throne, nothing else can take pride of place in my heart.
Could it be that the reason why we are so focused on the external is because the internal is not secured? Charm and beauty, or grace, as referred to above, are all good, but they have their limits. There are benefits and blessings that you cannot get by charm alone, and, as we know, beauty is such a relative term that one person's view of what beauty is will differ from another person's view. Why would something so ephemeral define my eternity? Why would something so fleeting and vague define my eternal reality? Please remember that these words were taught by the mother of Lemuel, and if a woman can say that beauty is vain, while fearing God is the ideal, you have to pay attention. The woman who reverently and worshipfully fears God is to be praised, because she has a clear identity and understanding of what is dear to the heart of God. Like David, God seeks men whose hearts are fully committed to Him, not the ones distracted by possession, position, power, presentation or personality clashes. Would you be that person? God's time of favour is here.
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