Proverbs 31 is best known for its description of the virtuous woman. Near the end of this description, the author says that “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised” (Prov. 31:30 NIV). What is meant by “charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting?” And is this something that is just applicable to women? Or does it have a broader application?
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In Pursuit of Charm and Beauty
Charm and beauty are complementary words. You might see beauty as referring to physical appearance and charm as outward actions. But, taken together, they constitute the visible expression of a person. They are what others see, and often judge us by. Many of us live in a culture that places great emphasis on outward appearances. And, as a result, we go to great efforts to enhance that appearance.
According to the website https://www.statista.com, there was approximately $240 billion spent on advertising in the U.S. in 2019. Of that, nearly $3.9 billion was spent advertising cosmetics. And the cosmetics industry had a revenue of $49 billion dollars in 2019. To put that in perspective, the population of the U.S. in 2019 was 328 million people. That comes to about $150 of cosmetics purchased for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. There was also $840 million spent on advertising for clothing. And, in 2018, $6.5 billion was spent on cosmetic surgery.
Clearly, we spend a significant amount of money to enhance our outward appearances. And, just as clearly, a large industry has developed around providing, and advertising, those products that are supposed to make us more attractive, happier, or healthier. Charm and beauty, at least in the U.S., is a big business.
The Transitory Nature of Charm and Beauty
But, as the author of this section of Proverbs claims, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting.” Makeup does not last and needs to be reapplied every day. Clothes wear out or go out of style. Nothing that we buy to improve our outward appearance will last. As we age, our hair will turn gray, our skin will start to sag, and wrinkles will begin to appear. And more and more effort and money are required to continue looking young and attractive.
It has been many years since I have watched Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. But it seems appropriate for this discussion. In this story, a vain Queen had a magic mirror that affirmed to her that she was the fairest in the land. But then, one day, the mirror told her something different. Snow White was the fairest. This caused the Queen to fly into a rage and attempt, unsuccessfully, to kill Show White. So many of us are like this Queen and cannot stand the thought of others looking better than we do. But rather than kill the competition, we invest ever more money in the vain attempt to keep up.
A Better Alternative
But it does not have to be that way. And, in fact, the Bible encourages an alternative. This verse has expressed the transitory nature of charm and beauty. But it also suggests a superior alternative. What is on the inside is of much greater value that the outward appearance. The passage says that, while the outward window dressing is transitory, the one who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Peter tells us much the same in 1 Peter 3:3-4. In this passage, he tells wives that “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.” Here he encourages an inner beauty, one that does not fade over time. A gentle and quiet spirit.
Proverbs and Peter both give their instruction to women. But I believe it is quite applicable to men as well. We are just as guilty of focusing on the exterior. Instead, we should focus on the interior. On the inner man, or woman.
True Value
As a believer and follower of the Lord Jesus, I am convinced that all people will one day stand before their creator. And he will not place any value on what is on the outside. Rather, he will judge based on our relationship with him, and who we are on the inside. The woman, or man, who fears the Lord will receive their reward from him. And, as Peter says, the beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit has great value in God’s sight.
Paul tells Timothy that “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come” (1 Tim. 4:8). Physical training is focused on the exterior. And there is some value in maintaining the health of our bodies. But that pales in comparison with godliness. Some day this body will crumble and decay, regardless of how well I care for it. But the inner person will endure. And if that inner person has been “trained in godliness (1 Tim. 4:7)” it will provide value both in this life and throughout eternity.
As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:18, what is seen is temporary. But what is unseen is eternal. Charm and beauty are what are seen and are temporary. But what is unseen, our inner beings, are eternal. And so, we should put much more effort into growing and developing as followers of Christ than we do in prettying up the outside appearance (Matt. 23:27-28).
Disclaimer
The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.
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This article was first published on Christianity.com on October 5, 2021
I totally agree with what you have said, the inner person should be the most beautiful, as God said to Saul the prophet ” you are looking at the outside of what a person looks like, I look at the heart, this is when Saul was looking for king David before David was king.
I love reading the clay jar every morning, thank you for setting up my day in the lovely way you do.
Very true, although the prophet was Samuel rather than Saul. Saul was the king that David replaced.
I am glad you are finding value in what I write. Blessings to you.
Totally agree Ed. Unfortunately changing our appearance outwardly is becoming very much the ‘norm’ in some parts of the world.
If you age gracefully you are, in some circles, very much on the outer …
Yes, it is indeed unfortunate that we focus so much on the external that won’t last, and neglect the inner person that will endure.