Why Looks Don’t Tell The Whole Story!

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion. Proverbs 11:22 NIV

What purpose does it serve to waste a gold ring to put through a pig’s snout? Does the gold ring make the pig more desirable or more precious? When a man sees a beautiful woman who exercises no discretion at all–with everything exposed–does she become more desirable or more distasteful?

If all we have to offer anyone is our looks–then we are indeed in sad shape. Not everything that looks good–is good and by the same benchmark–not everything that is unappealing is bad. What should really matter is the inner person–their character–not their looks.

I’ve met some rather plain-looking people and some who were physically unattractive, but were the most beautiful people I’ve ever met. I’ve also met some really good-looking people–on the outside–but so hateful and full of themselves that I could hardly wait to get away from them.  That adage about not judging a book by its cover is applicable to much of what we do in life–especially in seeking a wife or husband.

But the truth of the matter is-no matter how a person dresses up their outside–with make-up, surgical procedures, etc. –if there is no character development on the inside they are still without much value. Dressing up the pig won’t change what it is–and neither will any other procedure change what a person really is.

I’ve been appalled by the number of stories I’ve read in which a person was brutally beaten or killed by another (usually a man) because the victim was masquerading as a woman and when the man discovered the true identity–they felt betrayed and humiliated and reacted to the situation without thinking. This happens far too often and the simplest solution is for people to stop trying to be something they are not–misleading with their looks–inviting anger directed at them.

There are some things we can realistically prevent–and I’m not promoting brutally for betrayal–I’m simply encouraging people to stop trying to fool people. When we parade ourselves as one thing when we’re another–we’re setting ourselves up to be attacked–physically and spiritually!

And so too are pretentious Christians–who carry their big bible, wear the biggest crosses, mouth more, “Hallelujahs” and “Praise The Lords” than most of us can count and yet–they’ll cuss someone out at the drop of a pin. They never pray for anyone and are always asking others to pray for them. They never help anyone and always expect someone to help them. They go to church, but not to hear a word, but to spout words against everyone who walks into the building–they are always complaining and never happy about anything.

On the other hand, the ones who quietly see to the needs of others even when they don’t have all of their needs met, always smiling encouragement, always have a hug or light touch trying to comfort others when they need to be comforted–this is the real Christian and they don’t have to shout it or try to parade it. Most of us know who they are.

So–what do our looks tell people? Do they tell our whole story or is it just a facade–and we’re hoping no one will ever see the real person behind the facade?

 

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