A Virtuous Woman Is Modest

True Beauty of a Godly Woman

Many women today have lost sight of what true beauty is. There seems to be an unspoken rule that women are not worth being seen in public unless they are dressed to the gills, with overdone make-up and flashy clothing. There are those who dress in high heels and bangle earrings to go grocery shopping, and others who squeeze themselves into jeans and form-fitting tops to join the parade at the local mall. Even older women seemed to have fallen prey to the idea that their beauty is wrapped up in how they look.

Unfortunately, many women are obsessed with themselves, and they are often their own worst critic. They fret over their clothing size, and worry over their hair color or style. The fact is that they are never happy with the way they look, as they continue to fuel their vanity and their need for attention. This kind of behavior has even crept into the church, with the outward appearance having more of an influence than the heart of an individual. This is not the way God intended His children to live. It grieves God when they seek attention for themselves rather than pointing the attention to Him.

Both the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter gave insightful wisdom in how women were to present themselves, which is still valid in today's church. According to the revelation given to them by God, women who professed to be followers of Christ were to act with humility and modesty, in both their conduct and their dress. Their beauty was not to be found only in fancy hair styles, expensive clothing, or excessive jewelry. Instead, their beauty was to be seen in the “hidden person,” or the person they are on the inside. (I Peter 3:4) In other words, if the beauty is only skin deep, there is no real lasting beauty to be found.

There is nothing wrong with a woman doing things to keep herself looking beautiful and well groomed. Frankly, God is not interested in the color of lipstick she wears, not does he care how many times she colors her hair in a year. But whatever she does is to be done in moderation so that her focus does not become imbalanced.

Proverbs 31:30 says that “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.” The kind of beauty that lasts is the beauty that reflects an inward heart of submission, and a love for God and His people. As women grow older, the evidence of their age will begin to appear. This is a natural process, a result of the fall of mankind. But it is her wisdom, her gentleness, and her peaceful submission to God that will continue to make her attractive long after the physical beauty fades.