HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE YOU INWARDLY?

Dearly Beloved, HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE YOU INWARDLY? “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV). Some years ago, I did a major work on the body of my car and repainted it. Outwardly, it became like a new car. People did congratulate me for the efforts to rebrand the car. However, I did not enjoy using the car till I did major work on its engine and other internal devices also. This reminds me of many good-looking vehicles with faulty engines and/or other internal devices. No matter how good-looking they seem to be, they can malfunction anytime and disappoint their users. In fact, their users may be left stranded in remote places unexpectedly. Nevertheless, a vehicle with a well-sounded engine and internal devices, but with shabby body, is far more dependable in time of need than a good-looking vehicle with non-functional or faulty engine and internal devices. In addressing women, Apostle Peter enjoined them that they should value their “engines” more than their bodies (see 1 Peter 3:3-4). He referred to this as inner beauty. It is the beauty that has to do with one’s inner self, one’s character, and one’s real being. This is in contrast to the outward beauty that has to do with how one looks outside. In actual fact, many women (and some men also) spend a lot of their time and resources to make their bodies look attractive with “elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes” (verse 3 NIV) and even go ahead to do plastic (cosmetic or aesthetic) surgery. Most of these people are so mindful of their outward appearances, but they care less about their inner beauty. This does not mean in any way that one should not take care of one’s outward beauty. Nevertheless, just as the engine and other internal devices of a vehicle are the most important parts of the vehicle, the inward beauty is more important than the outward beauty. Although Apostle Peter was addressing women in that passage, and the writer of Proverbs 31:30 also referred to a woman, yet, taking care of one’s inner beauty is not about women only. Men also have to beware of who they really are inwardly. How beautiful are you inwardly? Do not only take care of your outward beauty. Take more care of your inward beauty – your character, your real being. That is more acceptable to God, and it is of more value to you. Outward beauty will fade, but inward beauty will not. Indeed, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman [and a man] who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30 NIV). In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be consciously more mindful of your inner beauty than your outward beauty.