“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

I’ve watched individuals and ministries fall because of the truth in this verse. Deceptive beauty has been the downfall of too many men. It has also been used to trip up women as well. As a society, we have always given too much power to beauty. As an industry, the beauty peddlers control a staggering amount of wealth, and to ensure they maintain it, they have crafted a persuasive and powerfully deceptive message. According to HelpLama, “The beauty industry’s net worth is estimated at $579.22 billion in 2023…Speaking of spending by country, the US spends the most in the beauty industry – $89.7 billion.” That’s a lot of money to fuel their fantasy. Nowhere in their marketing strategy do they reinforce our writer’s biblical truth about the deceptive and fleeting nature of what their products want us to believe is paramount and will last forever. Real beauty is seen in those who have the Spirit of God shining from their eyes and reflecting the calm beauty He brings. Scripture makes a point of letting us know that Jesus was not a handsome man by worldly standards. To be sure, there is nothing wrong with doing what you can with what you have. God’s people do not help the kingdom by trying to appear unattractive. It is the excessive emphasis on what Scripture tells us will fade away that the writer points out. Today, let the beauty of God be reflected in your story. #BeTheEdge

“Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” 1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬