Bible Reading: 2 Chronicle 29. 1 Timothy 2:9-15
“In like manner also, that woman adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” – 1 Timothy 2:9 (KJV).
Beauty is admired by everybody. Our God admires beauty. The works of his hands are beautiful. God himself supervised his creations and he confirmed that they are good. We appreciate the beauty of God’s creation, the stars, the trees, the animals, the birds, the hills and valleys, the seas and oceans all showcase God’s love for beauty. But the ultimate beauty was shown in God’s creation of man in his own image. Not only the outward beauty of his artistry, but moreso, the inner beauty of God’s image.
In keeping with his beautiful design, God demands that we adorn ourselves to showcase his handwork. Women often adorn themselves with well styled hairdo, make-ups with cosmetics, beautiful and well designed fabrics, with gold and pearls of costly arrays. While God does not condemn these outward adorning, he admonished that the real beauty is not the outer beauty but the inner beauty. The outer beauty cannot make up for deficiency or absence of inner beauty.
Such beauties of meekness, temperance, joy, kindness, goodness, respect, submission and liberality have no equal. They cannot be traded for outer beauty. The real and admirable beauty of a woman is her character and godly attitude.
The word of God admonished that while women spend time, energy and money taking care of the external, more attention should be given to dress the inner man with the mirror of the word of God, before God it is of great price. The same goes for men.
PRAYER: Oh Lord, help me to prioritize the inner man.
Rev. Vincent Diolu