Who is the most beautiful person you can name? Most of us will probably pick a movie or rock star.
How many of you feel that you are not beautiful? Do you want to know why? Did you know that most of us invite the most beautiful 1% of the population into our home every day for hours at a time? And we have them bring their perfect, beautiful (clean) houses with them. Then when we look around us or look in the mirror, what we see by comparison is often downright ugly (though in reality it is perfectly average).
What am I talking about? TV, television, the boob tube, the "Plug in Drug."
The Bible says:
"Whatsoever a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."
When we spend our time (an average of four hours per day) immersed in the culture of “the most beautiful” on our screens we begin to get unrealistic expectations and get our priorities messed up. We begin to think that what we see for hours per day on that box is normal and real. Maybe not consciously, but unconsciously.
We begin to be unsatisfied with the "average" that we have and to seek out the "beautiful" and "favored."
A study in Brazil discovered a direct correlation between the number of hours a woman spends watching TV, especially soap operas, and the number of children she has. It seems the more hours she watches, the more she expects her life to be like those childless (or one child with nanny), beautiful, rich, exciting, manipulative characters to be. So she chooses to have fewer children even though her (mostly Catholic) religion tells her many children are a blessing from God (When she gets to heaven, do you think God will quiz her on who slept with who this week on "As the Stomach Turns" or will He ask her where all the beautiful Blessings He wanted to give her are?).
In reality, look around at everyone you know. Have you ever seen anyone less then beautiful on TV? Have you ever seen anyone that beautiful off the screen?
The Bible is clear; "(Physical) beauty is vain." Proverbs 31:30
“Vain” means empty, futile, fruitless, lacking in worth. What does have value? "The woman that feareth the Lord."
When was the last time you saw that portrayed on TV?
These people on TV have favor in our society. They have hairstylists, makeup artists, and designers all at their command, and money to blow at any whim. The homes we see are never actually lived in. Their cars are never more than two years old (unless of course they are a classic).
But the Bible says this is deceitful and vain- worthless. It is not important to have perfect hair and a knick- knack shelf arranged just right. God does not see the way we see. He doesn't care what is on the outside, but what the inside looks like.
I am not saying, of course that we shouldn't brush our hair or clean our houses. The Bible does say to do all things as unto God.
Wash those dishes for Jesus!
Vacuum that floor for Christ!
I'm serious!
But care for what He has entrusted to your care. Don't be dissatisfied because He hasn't given you a brand new carpet to vacuum for Him (an old one cared for wholeheartedly is just as beautiful to God as a brand new one equally cared for) or long, thick, naturally curly, auburn hair (remember He planted each hair on your head even if there are only two of them).
Actually, God thinks we are beautiful even if society thinks we are hideous.
Did you know that each and every one of us is a masterpiece? We were each sculpted in our mother's womb by The Master Artist. All of creation is His handiwork, but we humans are His masterpieces.
Think about that. Even if your nose is on top of your head and you have three eyes, you were sculpted by the very hand of God Almighty. He thinks you are beautiful because He made you. I am not going to argue with Him, are you?
There is, in fact, a way to make yourself even more beautiful to God, a beauty that is not empty and useless. It starts with clothing ourselves in "the fear of the Lord."
Then accessorizing with "love your neighbor as yourself."
Finish up with a good dose of fruity styling; love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faith, gentleness, meekness, temperance (the Fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23).
If we have these in our lives we will be beautiful to God, and ultimately to those around us.
You see, unlike TV, our friends and neighbors can see what is inside (You can't tell from what happens on the screen whether that actress is a nice person or just has a nice role to play). True beauty shines forth from us in our everyday life and attitudes. Having these things in our lives can make a difference to others; make their lives better.
Worldly beauty and favor only benefits ourselves. Perfect curls only make me look better. Kindness improves the life of my neighbor that receives that kindness as well as my own life.
The Bible says here that the woman that fears the Lord WILL be praised. Even if it doesn't come in this life, we are promised that it WILL come. God sees our efforts to improve from the inside out. He knows the hardships we go through, how hard it is to wash the same old, faded clothes day after day when our neighbor is dressed to the teeth in the latest fashion. He knows the very desires of your heart. He has promised that if we will serve Him, love Him, try to be like Him, He will praise us.
Imagine standing before the very throne of the All-mighty God of the Universe and have Him smile at you and say "You did good." Matthew 25:31-40
Can you think of better praise?
"Then he had the man who had the one talent cast into outer darkness where there would be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth."
If you don't use the talents God has given you, He will take them away and give them to someone who will. If you do use what He has given you, you will increase your talents and God will be pleased. Find your own "giftedness" and use it.
I get the feeling that Sarah here is a determined worker. I think she did what she set out to do. I don't get the idea that she worked the way I do sometimes, flitting from one thing to another. I think she did one thing at a time and did it well.
I am having my children memorize a poem;
Work while you work, Play while you play,
This is the way to be happy each day.
All that you do, Do with your might,
Things done by halves are never done right.”
The Bible puts it
"Do all things heartily as unto the Lord."
I believe we should be determined, energetic workers and players. When we play with our children we should not be doing the bills at the same time, but devoting our attention to them. When we go on vacation, we should let the everyday world stay behind and really GO on vacation mentally as well as physically (turn your cell phone off!).
And when we work, we should work. Grab that spindle! Grip that distaff!
Now this doesn't mean I don't believe in multi-tasking. I believe mothers invented the concept. I have been known to teach phonics while answering questions in math, supervising preschoolers, and potty training toddlers all while nursing a newborn, (Gee, no wonder I am tired). My life rather demands this right now.
But I do try to devote my full attention to the children and only the children while doing this. I don't try to write articles or make phone calls during the times I need to be with the children. I try to do my business and writing while the children are at their Grandmother's house. I accomplish a great deal more if I do all things heartily, in their proper time.
I have in mind a goal I am trying to reach. I am not wandering about aimlessly.
I have a purpose, whether it is to give my children the best education possible or get dinner on the table, I try to always know what I am aiming for.
Someone once said "If you aim for nothing you will probably hit it."
What are you aiming for? Do you have a goal in your life? Three, four or more goals? Good!
Work towards them as a football or soccer player works towards his goal. You won't ever get there if you don't know where "there" is. Pray about it and God will guide you in setting and achieving the right goals for you. The ones that are right for me may not be the right ones for you. I may not be able to do as much as you or I may do more. I will probably do things that are entirely different than what you do.
That's OK. As Paul said, "If your whole body were an eye how would you hear anything?" If we all did the same thing, how could we, as the body of Christ, get anything done?
You work towards your goals, the jobs God wants you to do, and I will work towards mine. Together we can get things done for God's kingdom and make a better world.
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