Keith Hamilton

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

The vanity of beauty and how deceitful it is too. I have been saddened and disappointed over the years as I have witnessed family members and Christian ladies dress in a way that is immodest. That or act in ways that are seductive. While they are young and physically beautiful, they fail many times to realize how fleeting the allure and attraction of the physical is. Eventually, they will grow older, and their once youthful appearance will disappear. If they have only emphasized their physical appearance their entire life, what will they be left with? Emptiness? Perhaps. Yet, I know and have known many faithful Christian ladies who in their older years were radiantly beautiful. Their beauty was the result of an inward character glorified by God. They were admired by all who knew them or met them. They were respected and honored by their husbands, family, friends, and other Christians.

"Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. … Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates." (Proverbs 31:28 & 31)

There is wisdom in God's instructions to women.

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Peter 3:3-4)

"That which is not corruptible." Ah yes, the world with its constant appeal to the physical. The constant bombarding of the senses to dress and act in ways that are immodest and seductive. All of which are corruptible and crumble to the earth given enough time. Young ladies, then what? If you have relied only on your physical appearance to attract some man, how will you maintain that? I will never forget sitting in front of the store in the Mooresville community one hot afternoon after hauling hay. I was having a soft drink and cooling off in the shade with the other men from the farming community there. There was a lady who drove by in a pickup truck. As she passed by, one of the men pointed at her and remarked, "When she turned forty, her husband traded her in for one that was twenty!" The other men all chuckled and nodded their heads. I thought such was not funny and was very sad. Yet, how often does that happen when the only thing that exists in many relationships is the appeal to the flesh and physical appearance? Ladies, are you dressing to be chaste or chased? Yes, there is a reason why the wise man said that beauty is vain.

On the other hand, you can decide to be that woman whose inner goodness and godly heart is reflected in every aspect of your life. The way you dress, talk, and act so as not to draw undue attention to yourself. You can be different from the gaudy sexually appealing objects that this world tries to turn every woman into. Just listen to God's instructions.

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

The allure to be liked and followed on social media has led to some of my Chrisitan lady friends to post pictures that are immodest and seductive. Please do not degrade yourself in the same manner as the ungodly. Please do not be deceived by the vanity of beauty.