“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—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.” — 1 Peter 1:3-4
In 1990, a romantic comedy, called Pretty Woman, starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, hit the cinema screens in America. The movie was a disarming modern-day fairy tale—for adults only. Julia Roberts was Cinderella and Gere was her Prince Charming and it was the picture that made her a superstar and for which she won an Academy Award. It also revived the hit song, “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison performed a few years earlier. The movie was typical Hollywood but with possibly one redeeming quality—and even that may be a stretch—it offered its audience a secular look at redemption. A prostitute was given a chance to become a respectable woman because someone who loved her cared and helped her begin a new life.
There’s an interesting parallel in the gospel of Luke which took place when Jesus was invited to dine at the home of a prominent Pharisee named Simon. A prostitute showed up uninvited and she proceeded to stand behind Jesus at his feet weeping. She began, “to wet his feet with here tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.” This sent shock waves through the other invited guests and Jesus was rebuked by his host because she was a “sinner.” Jesus responded by forgiving her sins, “because she loved much, she was forgiven much” (Luke 7:37-48).
What is a pretty woman? What makes a woman beautiful? In the eyes of every culture a woman is considered pretty or beautiful if she is physically attractive. Now Julia Roberts certainly was and remains a pretty woman by all worldly standards—but is she a pretty woman by God’s standards? I don’t know the answer to that but I can tell you for sure what God’s standards are of a beautiful woman. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “beauty is only skin deep” meaning that real beauty comes from what’s within a person—and the apostle Peter tells us what it is.
Before I continue let me point out something that has always disturbed me about how this particular passage of Scripture is viewed by some “religious” groups. There are certain believers that have grossly misinterpreted Peter’s admonition here as meaning that women should abstain from the wearing of jewelry, make up, nice clothes including pants and certain hair styles—like curls, permanents or even long hair. I’m sorry for them—because they are wrong and steeped in legalism which is a killer of the Spirit, a pretender of holiness. The context is clearly showing what is important to God, and that is the inner person.
There is nothing wrong with physical beauty. In fact, I believe we would all do well to take care of our bodies and look the very best that we are able. But what Peter is pointing out here is that believers should spend more time developing their inner character than attempting to make themselves look beautiful on the outside. God is much more concerned with what’s inside than what’s on the outside. A classic example of this idea is seen in 1 Samuel when God was making his decision on who would become the next king of Israel. The prophet Samuel was looking at the physical attributes of the sons of Jesse as they paraded by but God made it clear when he selected the least likely son, David, when He told Samuel, “The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
If a woman’s beauty exists solely from outward dress and not inward character, that’s all it is—it is skin deep. In fact, in God’s eyes it is little beauty at all. Jewelry and other such outward adornments quickly lose their splendor and fade away but a gentle and quiet spirit lasts forever and God adores that! Purity, reverence, submission, holiness, hoping in God and respectful—that’s what God calls, “precious in His sight.” You might want to read Proverbs 31:19-31, for a beautiful composite of a lovely and attractive woman.
I close this little homily with this short poem by Ruth Johnson who seems to understand the importance of inner beauty. I think you ladies will appreciate it.
“Although outward beauty may be seen all painted on with a brush so fair, it’s shallowness can be revealed in our actions unaware.
But inner beauty is much more rare and comes from God above, it is shown in how we act and how we show His love.”
I’m so glad I married a truly “beautiful” woman. Maranatha.
To help us walk closer with God and to know Him better.
