Do not let your adornment be merely outward arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. - 1 Peter 3v3-4
‘They say time takes its toll on a body. Makes a young girl’s brown hair turn gray. Honey I don't care I’m not in love with your hair, and if it all fell out well I'd love you anyway’
These words from Randy Travis’ song ‘Forever and Ever, Amen’ illustrate the difference Peter talks about between inner an outer beauty. Millions (billions?) are spent every year in a quest for eternal beauty. Women (and men) pay for nips, tucks, stretches, creams, potions, injections, operations, and treatments in a desire to maintain their youthful good looks. Well, some people do, one must first have youthful good looks before they can keep them.
No matter what, those outward good looks are going to fade eventually. Wrinkles are going to set in. Hair is going to turn gray or turn loose. Youthful beauty does fade away.
Peter here speaks of an inner beauty that is incorruptible. Speaking to women primarily, but to all of us in general, he writes of the beauty of a ‘quiet and gentle spirit.’ This beauty is ‘very precious in the sight of God.’
Some of the most beautiful people I have ever met will never grace the cover of a fashion magazine or walk on the red carpet in Hollywood. Nevertheless there is a stunning beauty about their quiet and gentle spirit that cannot help but attract us.
What would happen if all of us, not just women, spent as much time on our incorruptible inner beauty as we do on our outer fading beauty?
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