Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Often times, two people can both view the same thing and one will find beauty in it while the other does not. Have you ever heard the statement “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”? How true that statement is! Beauty has always been defined by culture and time. What is considered to be beautiful in one culture might be considered unusual or awkward in another. Even within the same culture the styles change and things that were once popular become outdated.

Think about the women in South Africa that wear the neck rings. Every year the women will add another ring to help stretch their neck to an abnormally long length. They consider the rings as a sign of beauty, the longer the neck is the prettier the woman. Their opinion of beauty differs from the opinion of beauty in China a couple hundred years ago, where the girls, from a young age, bound their feet. This process of binding the feet took many years and was very painful. Once the girl’s feet were broken and bound she could no longer walk without aid. The foot binding made the girl’s feet appear to be smaller and she became completely dependent on her husband for transportation. This was considered beautiful because this was a sign of submission. Even if we may consider these processes as absurd, these cultures find the neck rings and feet bindings to be very attractive. In America, we too have things that are considered to be beautiful. The Media tells us to dress a certain way, to look as young and healthy as we possibly can, and to work to appear like the women we see on the covers of magazines. Some of the things that Americans do to try to reach these standards might seem a bit absurd to someone who does not live here. For example, some Americans will use Botox, a poison that is injected under the skin to deaden the nerves and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles from the face. Or some might even have their face or body surgically altered. Americans may not find these processes unusual, but other cultures may see them as ridiculous as we might see their beauty processes as ridiculous. Beauty has always been subjective.

As women, we should desire to be beautiful, but not by the world’s definition. Who do we want to look beautiful for and what kind of beauty should we be putting our emphasis on to please this beholder? If God is our beholder there are a few things that He considers to be truly beautiful. He does not look at the outward appearance but instead looks at our hearts, (I Samuel 16:7). By knowing our hearts God considers the character of a person more appealing than the physical beauty. Those who serve others and posses the right mentality will be more attractive to Him than those who focus merely on themselves. How much time do we spend in making ourselves presentable before we leave the house in the morning? We might freshen up, fix our hair, or put on some makeup, wanting to look our best. But do we also consider how much time and effort we are putting into appearing beautiful for God? “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.” (I Peter 3:3-4) Many other highlights of this incorruptible beauty can also be found in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such there is no law.” (NKJV) Consider also the passage from Romans 10:15b “…How beautiful are the feet of those who teach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” God also sees beauty in those who share His good news with others. God’s word contains a great message and we should feel enthusiasm about sharing it and find joy in our lives as Christian women!

No matter how gorgeous or in shape we are, God sees the beauty in us when we are living for Him. It is comforting to know that even though we may never look like a celebrity, have that “perfect” skin, or be the “ideal” size or shape, we can be sure that if we are living the right life God will always find us to be women of beauty. For in good time, the beauty that the world chases after will fade away. The styles will become outdated and all of us grow older. But, if we wish to have it, the type of beauty that God cherishes can never be taken from us and will never fade. A life of serving God is the ultimate beauty!

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. “ - Proverbs 31:30

----Written by: Kendra Isenberg