Jesus said, “And
why do you become anxious about clothing? Learn from the lilies in the paddocks
as to how they grow: they don’t engage in hard labour or spinning, yet I am
telling you that not even Solomon at his most magnificent was dressed like one
of these.”
—
Matthew 6:28-29 (USC)
Appearance is a god of our own making; a symbol of our predilection for
approval.
We wish to create an
impression, and we are not happiest unless we can warp that impression to the
best of our favour. We do so in the most unconscious seconds of our lives. And we
do so because we are so callously unaware of our lack of completeness.
Genuinely, it is only Christ — in the fullness of his perfect glory — who can
make us complete, by the grace of the Father who gave him, and by the Presence
of the Holy Spirit who indwells us. Yes, God in us!
God in us is the
power to take as the lilies do, the gracious gift of perfect appearance — as we are!
If we are to covet
nothing of this world — certainly no creation of our own as to manage our
appearance — we are to enjoy the monasticism of God.
But I’m the least
qualified to write this, or even to ‘believe’, for I’m an ex-bodybuilder; now, the
most important part of that sentence is ‘ex’. I know what it’s like to need to
manage one’s appearance — to make the very most of what you have and to pray
every prayer for the ‘blessings of God’ to the extension of better looks.
But, of course, God
makes us all beautiful in our time.
We may think a lot
about prettiness and handsomeness, but God made us all beautiful — as we are — for
our time. We come perfectly adorned, as the lilies do.
God has invested in
each of us; in our initial creation (our births) and ongoing creation (our growth).
Even as we refuse to take up the cudgels of the world — to deplore the fashion
assault — to denounce the pride of the eye — we are blessed, ever more, with
growth; the only kind that counts.
Contentment will
come when we stop fussing about our appearances.
Anxiety will be
vanquished when we stop looking vainly in the mirror.
Covetousness is
challenged at its heart when we accept what we look like.
Our sense of self is
a source of peace when we glory in God alone, and not looks.
***
QUESTIONS in REVIEW:
1. In what ways, exactly, do you
find yourself preening your appearance? List them. What can you do to overcome
the need to pretty yourself?
2. There is a difference between
looking respectable and being vain regarding looks. How can you know the
difference and achieve the balance in your life?
© 2015 S. J. Wickham.
Note: USC version is Under the Southern Cross, The New Testament in Australian English
(2014). This translation was painstakingly developed by Dr. Richard Moore, a NT
Greek scholar, over nearly thirty years.
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