A Beauty that Never Fades

By Susie Frederick

The world in which we live considers physical beauty to be very important and desirable. Beautiful people are used in advertisements to make the products seem more attractive. The heroes and heroines in books and in movies are usually very attractive physically.

We know what society considers “beauty,” but it is more important to know what God considers “beauty.” Are you beautiful? You can be beautiful in the eyes of God. What kind of beauty does God desire for Christian women? Let us learn the answer in the scriptures:

“Do not let your adornment be merely the outward arranging of the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it he the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands” (I Pet. 3:3-5).

“For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (I Sam. 16:7).

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov. 31:30).

From these scriptures, we understand that it is not our physical appearance which is truly important. Instead, the beauty of our spirit and the beauty of our behavior are precious to God.

People who judge others by what they see on the outside, and accept or reject people on that basis, may be depriving themselves of wonderful friendships and truly happy homes. People who marry for wealth or for physical beauty are often the most miserable people in their marriages. Right-thinking people value inner beauty above outward beauty. They know that appearance and wealth cannot guarantee happiness.

God does not condemn outward beauty. But He emphasizes that we should not place it high in importance. Why? Not everyone is born physically beautiful; and even for those who are, beauty often disappears with age. But everyone can have inner beauty. And it is this inner beauty which can make the home, and even the world, a more pleasant place.

What makes a person beautiful inside? The Bible gives the answer. Here are a few of the characteristics of an inwardly beautiful woman:

Respect for God (Prov. 31:30)

Diligent worker in the home (Prov. 31:13-19, 21-22, 27)

Enhances her husband’s respectability (Prov. 31:11-12, 23)

Serves the poor and needy (Prov. 31:20)

Strong, honorable, wise, and kind (Prov. 31:25-26)

Gentle and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:4)

Submissive to her own husband (1 Pet. 3:5)

Reverent (Titus 2:3)

Teacher of good things (Titus 2:3)

Loves husband and children (Titus 2:4)

Discreet, chaste (pure) (Titus 2:5)

Hospitable (1 Tim. 5:10)

Are you beautiful? You can be beautiful in the most important way of all: God’s way!