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Beauty is Vain
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
I love the pure honesty that comes from the lips of children. I’ve read several books that contain the thoughts and prayers of young children. They are good for a deep laugh. They can say things that the rest of us would get in trouble saying.
Here is one I ran across the other day. On the topic of how would you make a marriage work, such a difficult topic for us adults, one child responded, “Tell your wife she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck.” It’s hard to beat that advice.
We are reminded that beauty is vain and charm is deceitful, as the last page of Proverbs tells us. The exterior changes through the years. This is true of our houses and this is true of us. The ole’ shutters need a fresh coat of paint. The roof needs replacing. The shrubs need a lot of work. The house that once was brand new, now has years on it. The weather has not been kind to it. And, like that ole’ house, the same happens to us. The color of our hair changes. Our eyes sag. From once walking briskly, we tend to shuffle down the hallway. We often shout, “What did you say?”
But something special happens, especially within the heart of a disciple as they age. Their beauty shifts from the exterior to the interior. On the outside, the ole’ house could use some work. But on the inside, out of the heart, there has grown a deep kindness, gentleness and joy. And, it is in this way, that we still looks pretty after all these years.
Consider some thoughts for us:
First, if a person puts all their focus upon the exterior of life, they will be greatly disappointed and they will miss the true value of life. Doesn’t matter how much one tries to avoid the process of aging, it will happen. We may look like a dump truck, but we don’t have to feel like a dump truck. Our Proverb sentence ends with, “But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” She has found that true inner beauty that stands the test of time. A heart that embraces righteousness. Eyes that see the needs of others. Hands that are busy doing what they can in the kingdom. There is a special rare beauty that comes only from character. There is no make-up, cosmetics or plastic surgery that can do what a godly character can. It is attractive, beneficial and an asset to all around.
Second, I went to a guy’s garage who had a whole collection of sports cars. They were polished and shined so beautiful, that I didn’t want to touch them. But, by nightfall, he had to move a few of the cars back into the garage. They wouldn’t start. A few of us ended up pushing these expensive sports cars into their spots in the garage. Beautiful to look at, but unable to start. And, what an amazing parallel to our times today. So many have spent so much money to look good on the outside, but there is nothing worth talking about on the inside. Selfish in attitude. Mean in the way they treat others. Immoral in their behavior. Crude in their language. They are nothing more than a pretty car that doesn’t work. Useless. Useless to the kingdom. Useless to those who need help. Useless to even themselves.
Third, it’s hard to beat a godly grandma. I had one. I’ve known many. Busy in the kitchen making things for others. Always kind in heart. Praying deep prayers for others. Standing upon decades of Bible knowledge. One doesn’t get this way by spending most of the day looking in the mirror at yourself. Idleness is something strange and unknown to these godly ones. It’s these that become the backbone of a congregation. Teaching the little ones’ in class, having people over to their home, cleaning the church building, always busy and always trying to make others beautiful.
Deceitful and vain and not the words we want hanging around us.
Say she’s pretty even if she looks like a dump truck. One can do that, when the insides shine brighter than the outsides.
by Roger Shouse
