Beauty Is As Beauty Does

Like a gold ring in a pig’s snoutis a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

Proverbs 11:22 (NIV)

This is a ridiculous picture. A gold ring absolutely does not belong on the ugly nose of a pig. A pig lives in the mud. Likewise, a woman with no discretion acts and dresses with bad judgment and poor taste. She is just plain rude and selfish. Therefore, a beautiful face on such a woman is wasted and misplaced.

Josh Billings said, “To marry a woman for her beauty is like buying a house for its paint.” Maybe he had seen men who fell for a pretty face and then lived miserable lives trying to make their beautiful wives happy. Studies have shown that the more beauty a woman has when she is young, the harder it is for her to watch herself age. So, my dear sisters, no one is saying go ahead and just let yourself get ugly. But I am saying, get over the anxiety and priority of needing to look young and beautiful.

Let’s now get to the main point of this proverb. The main point is that beauty, real beauty, is more than skin deep. So although the world does not affirm this for us, we can affirm it for each other. Moms, read stories of great godly women in the past like Amy Carmichael and Corrie ten Boom, not just to your girls, but to your sons as well. These women had an inner glow and are true examples of Proverbs 31:30: “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (NIV).

Because beauty is as beauty does.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Since indiscretion is ugly, let’s look at the beauty of discretion. Discretion is not only noble, it is classy. It looks good on you no matter where you are or what you look like. Discretion carries an air of authority and dignity. Discretion guides us with the power to choose, to be careful, discerning, and wise. If you are a child of God, your Father in heaven is the great and noble King of the universe. Will you chose to live your life today to honor him, reflecting godly nobility and true beauty?

One Year Bible Reading

Numbers 32:1–33:39; Luke 4:31–5:11; Psalm 64:1-10; Proverbs 11:22