Your Appearance

“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which IN CONTINUANCE were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16

When a child is developing in his mother’s womb, he or she is actually being formed and fashioned by God. People often struggle with being dissatisfied with the way they look. Others have the opposite problem and become conceited about their looks. Realizing that God made you exactly the way he wanted you to look should help with either problem.

The following passage describes women who were vain and prideful about their appearance:

“In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, The rings, and nose jewels, The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty.” Isaiah 3:18-24

The women described here were elaborately adorned with expensive clothing and accessories and had a proud look. Being preoccupied with your appearance is prideful because you are assuming people care more about how you look than they actually do.

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

If you are a single lady who wants to attract the right kind of men, you need to have a holy appearance. A woman that is dressed in a classy way is a beautiful thing--it is a different kind of beauty that brings respect as opposed to lustful thoughts.

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10

Beauty is largely in the eye of the beholder, but obviously some people are more handsome or beautiful than others. That said, we shouldn’t look at what God created and call a person ugly. When people appear ugly to others, it is likely that they have abused or modified their body in some way.

This is an extreme example, but when God made Michael Jackson, he made that little black boy that sang ABC 123. God did not create the monster he later turned into. Be content with the way God made you, and know that you are beautiful in God’s sight. There is no need to drastically modify your appearance with plastic surgery, caked-on makeup, or a starvation diet.

On the other hand, we ought not look slovenly. There is a difference between having a natural look and being lazy. Hygiene, neatness, and a healthy diet can go a long way in helping you look your best. People in the Bible took the time to look presentable:

“Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee, and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor: but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking.” Ruth 3:3

“She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.” Proverbs 31:22

You should not become prideful about your appearance nor should you fret about it either. Realize that God made you look a certain way for a purpose—even if you don’t understand it. People with straight hair often wish they had curly hair and vice versa. Others wish that they could be shorter or taller, but God knew what he was doing when he made each and every one of us. Perhaps you need to take better care of yourself by gaining or losing weight, but don’t let Hollywood brainwash you into thinking you need to be a certain size or look a certain way to be attractive.

Here is a sermon on Your Appearance.