Skip to main content

Charm and ...

           Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

          I guess if we’re going to follow Biblegateway’s addition of the beginning of the discussion of the Proverb’s 31 woman, we may as well follow them in looking at the conclusion. I’ll begin with the fact that while this verse is discussing women, it is just as true of men.

          With that said, yesterday when we discussed nobility, part of the discussion was about being cultured. I didn’t use the word, but refined also comes to mind. Now today, Solomon’s mother claims that charm is deceptive. Is this a reversal of what was said before? If not, why not? What is the difference between being noble, cultured, or refined and being charming?

          One difference may be follow-through. Nobility does not offer what one is not going to give or does not have to give. Nobility seeks to rise to higher ideals. Nobility turns its focus outward. Nobility is about doing good and being good.  Charm is the opposite. One charms a snake, or a person, to gain power over it. The goal is to bend it to your will. That’s why it’s deceptive.

          As for beauty being fleeting, all one needs to do to prove that is investigate the number of rounds of plastic surgery, Botox treatments, and other “interventions” used by celebrities and others to create or maintain their beauty. Billions of dollars are spent for this purpose. I’m not opposed to the use of makeup, and I know they earn their living based on their looks, but if beauty were not fleeting, it would not be needed.

          That brings us to the third concept in today’s passage. A woman (or man) who fears the Lord will be praised. Why? Are we to fear God the same way we fear being raped, or being attacked by whatever difficulty or creature haunts your imagination? Or, is fearing the Lord more about not trying to invade His place, about not trying to take His throne, and working within the parameters He has set? The latter seems a more productive sort of fear, the sort that leads to wisdom and benefit, if we would only actually do it.

 

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more