The True Beauty

"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. ³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates."

Proverbs 31:30-31

It is amazing the lengths and pains people are willing to endure to pursue their ideals concerning personal beauty.  The treatments, augmentations, lifts, sculpting and injections can almost become a idolatrous pursuit of beauty that quickly passes away.  People post images of themselves to seek favour of friends and strangers, and compliments and criticisms both increase along with followers.  The standard of what is considered beautiful today changes by the day, for we are never satisfied.

God tells us what is better than perfectly manicured brows, youthful skin and a toned body from hours in the gym:  the woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.  This chapter of Proverbs focuses primarily on the great value of a virtuous woman and wife who is industrious, diligent, caring and godly.  Unlike society that places emphasis on appearances, this passage focuses on who she is and how her God-fearing character is revealed in ways that benefit her and others.  Her true beauty is not accentuated by her fine clothing, make-up or flattering filters but from her trusting relationship with God.  Beauty seen as praiseworthy by God comes from within, and it comes from Him.

Proverbs 31:25-26 says, "Strength and honour are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come. ²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness."  The woman described here is clothed with something better than designer clothes that fade and go out of fashion, for she is clothed with the strength and honour of her Designer.  Her mouth speaks forth wisdom governed by the law of kindness, and this is something that marked Jesus Christ who has become wisdom for us.

Both men and women can be vain and seek attention for themselves:  did you know those who walk wisely are able to attract people closest to them to behold the beauty of God?  See what is written in 1 Peter 3:1-4: "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, ² when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. ³ Do not let your adornment be merely outward--arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel--⁴ rather let it be 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."  Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit has incorruptible beauty in the sight of God.

The woman described in Proverbs 31 is not fearful or timid but confident in God, comfortable in her skin, delighting in her relationship with God and others.  Like Jesus who was servant of all, she is assertive in demonstrating love and kindness by wisdom and the fear of the LORD.  This gentle and quiet spirit was seen in Jesus, and by His grace all who trust in Him have the opportunity to adorn Him with the humility, grace and kindness He has given us.  There is nothing wrong with styled hair, new clothes that fit well or receiving compliments:  our aim ought to be to compliment the LORD with hearts that rest in Him.  To hear God say, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" is infinitely greater than the adoration and praise of millions.  God knows true beauty when He sees it.

The Heart of the Matter

It is good to realise no matter how much we know (or think we know!), God always has much more to reveal of Himself and our need for Him through His word.  A verse read hundreds of times and even memorised remains full of truth yet to be understood and applied by those who trust in God.  A passage that grabbed my attention today is from the words of Agur in the KJV of Proverbs 30:7-9:  "Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: ⁸ remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: ⁹ lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain."

Whilst the final words of verse 9 are in italics (meaning they are not in the original text but added by the translators to improve the English rendering), it caused me to consider how stealing can be connected with taking the name of the LORD in vain.  The description most commonly heard concerning taking the name of the LORD in vain forbidden in the 3rd Commandment, if not the only one, is the use of God's name as an expletive or an expression of surprise.  Scripture bears out that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and thus the taking the name of the LORD in vain is more a heart problem than one of undisciplined speech.  "Vain" can be described as worthless, empty, futile and inconsequential.  When the preacher said "All is vanity!" he was saying everything was worthless and pointless, grasping for the wind.

Taking the name of the LORD in vain suggests a person has heard of the LORD God, but does not really believe or obey Him.  Instead of seeking the LORD who rules over all, rather than trusting God to bless the works of his hands, a person takes the name of God in vain by theft.  Sin can be put into the categories of sin of commission and omission:  by something a person does that is sin or to sin by not doing something.  We can take the name of the LORD in vain by speaking His name to express disgust or surprise, and we can take the name of the LORD in vain by living like He is worthless, His promises are empty, His power is futile and without consequence.  The opposite of taking the name of the LORD in vain is the fear of God, choosing to walk in His wisdom in faith and obedience.  It isn't so much about what we say but the attitude of our hearts.

Agur prayed to be removed from vanity and lies, that he would not deny the LORD's existence, presence and power to provide for all his needs.  Taking the name of the LORD in vain is a result of self-confidence and self-reliance, the proud posture of a man who denies God's role in creating and sustaining our lives.  The rich and poor can take the name of God in vain by actions that deny Him and His sovereign rule, not just by saying "God" or "Jesus" in an empty fashion.  Defining "taking the name of the LORD in vain" narrowly as only what we say does not touch the heart of matter:  our need to repent and trust the LORD God as LORD of all and our God.

Born Again to Be

The viewer's introduction to Aragon in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is in the shadows of the Prancing Pony tavern, his face and piercing eyes illuminated by the glowing embers of a pipe.  The travelling hobbits asked the bartender and host of the establishment about the menacing man who sat alone, and they were told he was a Ranger of the North named "Strider."  Little did they know this man would be their faithful guide, fierce protector and more still: he would be revealed to be the rightful heir to the throne of Gondor, one able to wield Anduril, the sword forged from the shards of Narsil.

It is clear in the films Aragon carried shame of his forbear's unwillingness to destroy Sauron's ring of power when he had the chance.  Instead of ridding the world of that great evil, he carried it close to his heart.  Aragon knew the same weakness found in kings and all men also marked him, and so he kept his true identity secret.  He fought for the side of good, yet for decades he shied away from the burden of rule because of his sense of unworthiness.  When the hope of men was almost lost, Elrond king of the Elves forged the sword Anduril.  Knowing the fate of Middle Earth and the life of his daughter Arwen was at stake, Elrond forcefully said: "Put aside the ranger. Become who you were born to be.”  In picking up the sword Aragon needed to put aside the ranger.  Desperate times moved a man to embrace his purpose.

Now the Lord of the Rings trilogy does not acknowledge or  speak of God, but there are clear parallels between Aragon and followers of Jesus.  We must lose our lives for Christ's sake in order to find them; we must decide to put away the ambitions of our flesh and be born again by faith in Jesus to submit to the plans and purposes God has in creating and redeeming us.  While we are sanctified, set apart by God for God when we are justified, we are also being sanctified.  There is a positional aspect of sanctification as well as a progressive one.  As we are convicted of sin we never noticed before we are to confess and repent, choosing instead to do the things that please God.  We are called to take up the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, and learn to rightly divide it.  God holds us responsible and accountable to be who we were born again to be.

The church of God is the body of Christ comprised of many members, and it cannot be more healthy, well or fit than each individual person.  To lament the ills of society without realising you are part of society is foolish as grieving over the problems "in the church" without realising it is the body of Jesus Christ (and also our own body!) we criticise.  The call of Christ is an individual call, for each servant of the LORD Jesus to obey, honour and glorify Him.  It is for each Christian to cast aside every weight and the sin that easily weighs us down and to run with endurance the race set before us as we look to Jesus together.  There is a corporate aspect of this, but the corporate will not happen unless we do this ourselves first.  It is our reasonable service to present ourselves as living sacrifices acceptable to Christ, not being conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds to the end we may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Where the analogy breaks down is no man can become who he is born to be by courage, willpower or strength.  It is God who knits people together in the wombs of their mother and has plans and purposes He intends we fulfill by His grace.  It is God who brings us together as part of a local fellowship of believers who serve the LORD and one another in the ministry of His word.  Every child of God is called to take up the sword of the Spirit and to be strong in the LORD and the power of His might in the service of our King Jesus.  It is God who makes us fruitful in His service.  It is not by our might, nor by our power we will prevail but by His Spirit as we surrender in obedience to Him.  By faith in Jesus Christ marked by obedience to Him we are becoming who we were born again to be.

Walking the Walk (in love)

I have been reading a biography of Oswald Chambers and I am impressed by the impact of a person who loves and lives for Jesus can have on others.  It is evident God uses people to spurn others on to greater works for Christ and faith in Him--for generations to come.  Throughout scripture, the annals of history and in our personal experiences we have encountered people with whom we connect because in Christ we share in common regenerated hearts, eyes once blind that now see and renewed minds by God's revelation.  I appreciated this paragraph from Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God:

"With all his emphasis on truth, Oswald was never content to affect the mind alone.  His goal was to stir the will to act on sound principles of Scripture, so that people might demonstrate the love of Christ.  He looked intently at his eager, earnest students, ready to go out and battle for the truth, then read from Dr. Alexander Whyte's exposition of Job:  "Oh, the unmitigated curse of controversy!  Oh the detestable passions that corrections and contradictions kindle up to fury in the proud heart of man!  Eschew controversy, my brethren, as you would eschew the entrance to hell itself!  Let them have it their own way.  Let them talk, let them write, let them correct you, let them traduce you.  Let them judge and condemn you, let them slay you.  Rather let the truth of God itself suffer than that love suffer.  You have not enough of the Divine nature in you to be a controversialist."  (McCasland, David. Oswald Chambers: Abandoned to God ; the Life Story of the Author of My Utmost for His Highest. Discovery House Pub., 1993. page 107)

What a great example this is!  Dr. Alexander Whyte wrote an exposition on Job and held forth observations applied practically to life by the divine truth revealed in holy writ.  Oswald Chambers read words that resonated with the truth he knew, and he passed on the wisdom to his impressionable students who would benefit from restraint concerning wading into controversies.  David McCasland chose to include this paragraph in the autobiography he wrote that I am reading, and now I have shared it with whoever reads this post.  Many have talked a good game, but how good and profitable it is to consider and take to heart the wisdom of those who "walk the walk" with Christ in love.

Those who hold to the truth can doubtless fall into the trap of believing it is more important to correct others who err than to prioritise walking in God's wisdom and truth ourselves.  The Pharisees embraced this role with relish, all the while condemned by Jesus for hypocrisy.  They were quick to criticise those who ignored their traditions of men they taught as commands of God:  they wiped the outside of the cup while the inside was filled with filth and uncleanness.  I love what Jesus said when He was told the Pharisees were offended by His remarks in Matthew 15:14:  "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."  It is not that Jesus did not care about the religious rulers, for the Good Shepherd is pleased to pull wandering sheep from a ditch; He is able to open the eyes of those born blind--and He does when such cry out to Him in faith.