Some 30,000 people recently were informed that they weren’t as attractive as they thought. This image-shattering news came courtesy of the staff of a cyber dating service for “beautiful men and women.” The staff dropped the gasping group (and their glamor shots) from its ranks because they simply didn’t make the cut. A spokesman for the site said, “We can’t just sweep 30,000 ugly people under the carpet.” Oooh, not nice.
I’m glad that God doesn’t view us with the fickle, subjective gaze of a human being. He sees true beauty in the character—the essence—of those who color their world with His glory. The apostle Peter wrote to Christian wives, “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).
Was Peter ‘thumbs down’ on all jewelry and hairdos? No, he was making a point: Beauty from the inside is what God desires. The very ‘fabric’ of our lives should reflect purity, reverence and holiness (1 Peter 3:2-5). As we clothe ourselves with these things, we’re doing “what God has called [us] to do” (1 Peter 3:9; compare Galatians 3:27).
Now, you might be thinking, Well, my personality is stronger than “gentle” and more loud than “quiet.” God understands; He gave you your personality. As you seek to become more and more like Jesus, He will mold you into the beautiful person He created you to be.
The people who were removed from the dating site—and all of us—need to remember these words: “Beauty does not last; but a [person] who fears the Lord will be greatly praised” (Proverbs 31:30). Let’s pursue true beauty—God and His glory radiating from within us.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 1:1-18
More:
Read 1 Timothy 2:9-10 and note Paul’s instructions for how to make yourself truly attractive.
Next:
How can you become more beautiful in God’s eyes? Why is inner beauty so much more important to God than subjective physical beauty?
CEG on June 5, 2012 at 1:19 am
Hi Tom, great post. Just a minor thing but would appreciate your clarification. Is it correct that Paul wrote 1 Peter 3?
Kat on June 5, 2012 at 7:09 am
Modern scholars are convinced that the language, dating, literary style, and structure of this text makes it implausible to conclude that 1 Peter was written by Peter; it is more likely that 1 Peter is a pseudonymous letter, written later by one of the disciples of Peter in his honor.
tom felten on June 5, 2012 at 8:20 am
Thanks for sharing, Kat. It is true that some scholars hold this view. I appreciate you lifting up this possibility. One thought is that Peter might have received help from Silas who would have acted as his amanuensis (writing assistant) in putting the letter together (1 Peter 5:12). This could explain why the writing differs from 2 Peter.
tom felten on June 5, 2012 at 8:13 am
Thanks for writing, CEG. Actually, we believe Peter did author this book. An overview of the entire epistle can be found in an online booklet here. Hope this is helpful!
joo_sg on June 5, 2012 at 9:57 am
Sent 1 Peter 3:1-6 to encourage a sister today. How timely reinforcement from your post!
OnMyWayHome on June 6, 2012 at 2:01 am
My wife is one who shines with inner beauty. I’ve always wanted her to look pretty and wear nicer clothes. She refrained from doing such things and over time has grown lovelier with her spirit from within as she has shown me the Lord. I’m glad for her in so many ways.
Thank you Tom
daisymarygoldr on June 7, 2012 at 1:42 am
This was the passage we had meditated yesterday during our family devotion time. It was like ammunition for my husband who is convinced that it is my lingering in front of the mirror that makes us late for church every Sunday. So, before reading verses 3-4, he paused and asked me to hear God’s word that is specifically meant for me. He then started to spin about why we should not waste money on clothes and make-up. However, after some deep deliberation we concluded that God has blessed women with natural beauty. And it is not wrong to make efforts to be beautiful. Peter is not teaching against women being attractive. His exhortation is for our outward appearance to be consistent with the inward adornment.
Unlike clothes, jewelry, and accessories, a gentle and quiet spirit cannot be bought at the store. These adornments are also not natural human assets. They are the outworking of God’s Spirit in the life of the godly woman. Paul describes gentleness as the way a mother cherishes her children (1 Thessalonians 2:7 NKJV).
“Quiet” does not mean a woman should be dumb and not speak her mind. It means to “be still” as we submit ourselves completely under the yoke of Jesus. A quiet spirit is the reflection of inner peace in the heart of a woman who is abiding in God. Therefore, gentleness and peace is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
To put it plainly, the unfading inner beauty of women is the glory of Christ abiding in us. When we clothe ourselves with the beauty that comes from within, it will attract attention not to the woman but to the life of Jesus Christ indwelling the woman.
Thanks Tom Felten for this much needed reminder to adorn ourselves with a gentle and quiet spirit!
sheridan voysey on June 7, 2012 at 8:04 am
I missed this story when it broke. Wow, what a slap in one’s face. But what a comparison with the ‘true beauty’ God looks for.
Nice one, Tom.
jroy25 on June 8, 2012 at 6:45 am
Wow. Still single at 41, I think I would have been crushed from such news a dating site would deliver. As I work on inner beauty, purity, reverence, holiness…I also need to remember that I am given everything I need for life and godliness. We all need to stand firm in the love of our Lord regardless of the rejection life (and man) may bring.
Thank you for your journal writing, Tom. I am praying for a great day for you today.
tom felten on June 8, 2012 at 8:33 am
Thanks, my friend. I’m also praying for you—may you experience the beauty and love of God today in a very special way!