Biblical Beauty: What Makes a Person Truly Beautiful

In various cultural contexts, the concept of beauty has evolved. Some have based it on a person's physical features or even fashion. However, what appears beautiful at one point may be considered less so at another. Standards change, and people strive to keep up with what is generally accepted.

Nevertheless, the question remains: What makes a person truly beautiful? This question may yield different answers depending on whom we ask. But as followers of Jesus, we should not base it on people's ideas. Instead, we should turn to the source of eternal beauty, our God. To comprehend real beauty, we should begin with our God and what He deems beautiful in His Word.

True Beauty is Deeper and Timeless

The book of Proverbs serves as an excellent starting point for exploring Biblical beauty. It is a book rich in wisdom and guidance on how we should think. The central message of the book revolves around the "fear of the Lord" and wisdom, both of which hold immense importance in the life of a Christian. It is only fitting that we take a moment to consider what Proverbs has to say about beauty:

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” — Proverbs 31:30

Charm refers to a person's outward attractiveness or appeal that others may find praiseworthy. However, the writer of Proverbs describes charm as deceitful, indicating that it can mask the true intentions of the heart, which are of greater significance—namely, a person's character and motives.

For example, a person might wear a beautiful outfit at a social gathering, capturing the attention of those around them. Yet, beneath that outward beauty may lie feelings of hatred and resentment towards others. In this scenario, their external beauty is deceptive, as it conceals the darkness within their heart.

True beauty is also timeless. People often invest in enhancing their external appearance, but the reality is that physical beauty fades with time. Even the most stylish clothing eventually shows signs of age. It is not wrong to care about our outward appearance, but the issue arises when we prioritize it above what truly matters—our character.

When Scripture speaks of the fear of the Lord, it refers to having reverence and awe towards God. When we approach God with this attitude, we strive to obey Him, honor His commandments, and prioritize our relationship and fellowship with Him over temporary concerns.

In simpler terms, having a fear of the Lord cultivates a character that is pleasing to Him—a quality worthy of praise from the Lord Himself. While people often seek praise from others, it is crucial not to forget what truly deserves praise in God's eyes: our inner selves. Fearing the Lord goes beyond superficiality, producing in us a timeless value that extends into eternity.

True Beauty Comes from Within

Likewise, external adornments, such as the various things we wear or put on our bodies, cannot compare to the beauty that resides within us. It's crucial to remember that people often judge us based on our outward appearance, but what holds greater value in God's eyes is our inner essence.

Apostle Peter underscores this essential truth in one of his letters. According to him, what brings delight to God is a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:3-4). In contrast to external beauty or adornments, the quality of one's heart is imperishable. This means it doesn't fade like outward beauty and is more genuine than mere charm, which can be deceptive.

When we possess a gentle and quiet spirit, it becomes evident to those around us. In a world filled with pretense and vanity, experiencing sincerity of character is incredibly refreshing. It is the light of Christ that radiates from us through what the Spirit cultivates within us.

As mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23, the fruit of the Spirit includes qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The more we grow in our understanding of the Lord and put these qualities into practice in our lives, the more the light of Christ shines through us, and that is what truly makes us beautiful. While many may fail to recognize the genuine value of real beauty, some will find great joy in experiencing the authenticity of God's love within us. Most importantly, it is God's delight in us that truly matters.

Jesus and the Value of Inner Beauty

Even Jesus acknowledged the importance of sincerity and godly character in a person. In His teachings, Jesus emphasized that someone might use their charm to deceive others. However, we would not be deceived if we looked at the fruit of their inner motives.

"Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?” — Matthew 7:15-16

False prophets are like those people who appear beautiful on the outside and charming. They love to wear adornments to impress others, creating an illusion of good intentions. However, deep inside, they desire to promote false teachings that do not align with the Gospel. Instead, they preach what people want to hear, intending to amass earthly treasures.

In contrast, our Lord Jesus may not have possessed the same outward beauty that attracted crowds (Isaiah 53:2) as these false prophets, but He displayed genuine character and sacrificial love. During His time on earth, He served people through divine healings and preached about the love of God to the poor and oppressed, asking for nothing in return except for people to enter the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, He exemplified the ultimate expression of love by sacrificing Himself on the cross to save sinners from the penalty of sin.

“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:21

Learning to Imitate Jesus

Jesus serves as our beautiful Savior and the ultimate example of what it truly means to be beautiful. As followers of His in our journey of faith, we should strive to embody Biblical beauty, shifting our focus away from mere charm and vanity. Instead, like Jesus, we should cultivate inner beauty and concentrate on developing a godly character.

Constantly deepening our knowledge of Jesus can aid us in nurturing inner beauty. We can always immerse ourselves in His story and teachings within the Scriptures. As we turn the pages of the Bible, we should closely examine Jesus's life and how He interacted with people. Let's delve into His teachings on the Kingdom of God and learn how to wholeheartedly love the Lord and extend that love to others as we should.

While we admire Jesus's inner beauty, let's continuously pray to God for the development of a godly character within us, making us more and more like Jesus. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit residing in us is to sanctify us, guiding us towards conformity with the image of Christ. As we progress in our faith journey, we learn how to love as Jesus does.

Furthermore, the lessons we glean from Jesus should be put into practice. By loving others as Jesus loves them and by loving the Father as Jesus loves Him, we can cultivate genuine beauty that is not empty or deceptive. It is the Biblical beauty of a quiet and contrite heart, mirroring the beauty that the Lord Jesus displayed toward us—a beauty that we should strive to imitate.

As you delve deeper into the understanding of Christ, our prayer is that you increasingly resemble Him in love and obedience to the Father!