Question from a Reader:
“I had never really thought of myself as vain. As I get older my outward appearance is starting to bug me, but when it does, I have doubts about vanity. When you do things to improve your appearance for yourself is it a sin?
Gyms take a lot of effort on our part to Lypo without surgery. Teeth Whiting and Life Style Lift has been front and center on TV lately. Both have caught my interest. I decided to do both and now it crossed my mind that it might not be OK with our Heavenly Father.”
The first thing that came to my mind when I read the question was the difference between the flesh and the spirit. As I pondered, I thought of the inner and the outer man the way Paul describes them in Romans, chapter 7. He said there was “no good thing” in his fleshly man. His flesh warred against his mind to make him do the things he would not.
We understand that the world is involved in many temporary hopes that soon vanish away (Psa. 90:10). It is understandable that man would be involved in temporary things for he is not on earth very long (James 4:14). God’s work involves eternal things for He always lives to accomplish his work in our hearts (Isa. 57:15).
God’s work concerns man’s eternal nature (2 Cor. 4:16-18). He sees there is something in man’s inner nature that can be strengthened (Eph. 3:16). We can be strong in His eternal works – OR – we can be strong in the temporary works of the world. Which do we truly desire? Does He not know where our hearts are set? (Matt. 6:21).
Mary desired strength in the inner man, and Jesus promised it would not be taken from her (Luke 10:38-42). These vanities (useless things) of the world are not needful, but are truly empty of eternal good. The Lord is pleased with us when we determine to seek the eternal things of His kingdom.
Another thought I had ran along the lines of praise of men. We are told that if we seek the praise of men we will not have God’s praise (John 12:42-43). Why did the chief rulers not believe on Jesus? They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. Is our desire to tuck, adjust, nip and deck the body part of loving the praise of men? If it is, we will be condemned by God (Luke 16:15; John 5:44).
MULIEBRAL VIEWPOINT 
Something that came back to me while reading this, was a sweet girl my brother met when we were in high school. She was a stunningly beautiful brunette, petite, with a winning smile and flawless, refined features. In conversation one day, she shocked him by saying she hated her face. Then she explained. When she was in middle school, her nose had been completely smashed by a softball, requiring emergency surgery. The plastic surgeon, without consulting either the girl or her parents, had taken it upon himself to reconstruct her previously quite large nose into a model’s dream. Voila! She was transformed from being rather plain to strikingly beautiful, and just as suddenly, people began to treat her differently, nicer. Waaay nicer. She realized people didn’t see her for who she was inside, but for her appearance, which only made her sad and distrustful, longing to go back to being “herself.” We may enjoy others’ respect if we’re beautiful, but if we’re wise we’ll realize that type of honor isn’t true honor. Maybe we should be content with such things as we have (Heb 13:5); at least we know that anybody who loves us really loves US. (-;
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What a sad account… I pray the girl learned not to trust in appearances and just be open and honest at all times.
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So true! Now months away from 50, these things have certainly crossed my mind, especially since in the last 10 years I’ve aged 20 or more. But that’s really the point. I’ve had thoughts about surgery (even had one physician tell me I “ought” to!) or contemplated doing other things to slow the appearance of this shocking change. But it’s becoming almost like weeds – pick one and 500 spring up in its place! We simply can’t keep up. Even if we do for a short time, soon it becomes increasingly futile, even “obvious” we’re trying too hard. That in itself isn’t respectable. Life is SO short! By faith we can know that, ultimately, God honors those who honor Him, not those who seek praise for themselves. Prov 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory. And Pr 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory if it be found in the way of righteousness. May God bless us all to age in a way that will please Him. Thank you for the reminder!
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Like the article said earlier, when you are born prettier than normal, it is more of a temptation to try to stop the aging process. Personality has a lot to do with acceptance. I had a very ugly classmate in high school whose personality was magnetic. She was WAY overweight and had facial hair, but nobody seemed to care because her “inside self” was so sweet.
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