My dear readers,

Inward or Outward Beauty?

Proverbs 11:22: “As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”

Proverbs11:22 employs an emblematic parallelism to teach God's truth. Instead of using a few adjectives to describe the truth taught in Proverbs 11:22, God used an emblem. Not only does the emblem accurately capture the truth, but its vividness also helps God's children remember the teaching more. Who can forget the image of a pig wearing a golden jewel on its nose?

Though the emblem describes a woman, it also applies to men.

Proverbs 11:22 teaches the importance of caring for the inward man, not just the outward.

A jewel of gold is expensive. Only the rich could afford to possess such a jewel of gold. A swine was an unclean animal that was most comfortable wallowing in muddy water. The reason for the pig’s wallowing is that God created the pig with very few sweat glands. To keep their body cool, especially in hot, humid weather, they wallow in the muddy water. In this sense, they appear filthy, earning themselves a reputation for filth. The golden jewel is not only expensive but also beautiful and shiny. No one in their right mind would put a golden jewel on the snout of a pig. In addition, pigs use their snouts to forage and root, i.e. to dig, for food. The image of the pig rooting in the watery mud with the golden jewel attached to its snout is laughable. Imagine someone who spends time and resources to look beautiful sticking her face into the watery mud. One would think she has lost her mind!

This emblem of a pig with a golden jewel on its snout depicts a beautiful woman who spends a great deal of time and money to look her best. She wears expensive jewellery and designer clothes that cost thousands. She goes to an expensive salon to have her hair done. Her hands and feet are manicured regularly. She does all these to project an image of wealth, beauty and distinction. Everyone will marvel at her elegance and high-society image, which is like royalty. However, the moment she speaks or conducts herself, the image of distinction and beauty evaporates like the early morning dew in the heat of the noonday sun. “No one would be silly enough to do such a thing,” some may surmise. Yet, sadly, such “foolish” behaviour is seen all the time in churches, from a spiritual perspective.

In what way is a Christian like a pig with a golden jewel on its snout? She is like a fair, i.e., beautiful, woman who is without, i.e. has turned her back on, discretion, i.e. biblical judgment. A beautiful woman brings delight and joy to all who see her. God has made us in this manner. Isn’t outward beauty one of the attractions for millions to watch their favourite actors and actresses? There is nothing wrong with outward beauty, for God gives some more appealing physical appearances. Those who think they are not beautiful enough will spend thousands of dollars and hours of inconvenience and pain visiting plastic surgeons to enhance their outward appearances for all kinds of worldly reasons. The power of a beautiful and pleasant appearance is real. It opens many doors in business and trade. It transforms the lives of everyone concerned. Applying this to the spiritual realm, we see many professing believers spending much time and resources looking spiritually good as a Christian. They dress appropriately. They attend all the right spiritual activities. They present themselves every week as one who is holy and righteous by their appearance of Christian holiness, like the Pharisees in Christ’s time.

But the Christian can ruin it all if he is without discretion.

The Christian, like the beautiful woman in Proverbs 11:22, destroys his spiritual beauty in two ways:

• His words – The saying “the pen is mightier than the sword” is true. The pen can heal and offer great encouragement through the words written. These words remain in the minds and hearts of those who are encouraged by them. They remember the help these words brought throughout their lives because they cannot forget the desperate, painful experiences that the well-written words pulled them out of. These words could have been spoken by a preacher or a teacher of God’s Word. God used His preached words to save sinners and help believers. When the believer’s words are seasoned with salt, it means the concepts and meanings are biblical; like salt that retards decay and provides good flavour to people’s lives.

Tragically, the power of words can also cause the greatest harm and wound the soul the deepest. Slanders and gossip are the two most common methods employed by the disciples of the evil one. Truth mixed with errors is the most effective, according to experiential observation. We have seen its deadly poison, both in writing and in speech, that have destroyed lives and relationships. It is no wonder that God calls such a diabolical sin an abomination. Proverbs 6:16-19: “¹⁶These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: ¹⁷A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, ¹⁹A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Sometimes, the wrong place, time and tone during which certain words are spoken may be due to a lack of discretion. The judgmental spirit within the heart is revealed through the words. Criticism is dressed up in “care and concern” to justify hurting and slandering. “Sharing prayer items” is one of the favourite phrases to numb the conscience, licensing the person to gossip freely, with a conscience seared by this noble and spiritual motive.

• His behaviour – Unseemly behaviour includes the manner of sitting, the loudness of speech, inordinate conduct, and inappropriate gestures, which characterise the beautiful woman as without discretion. She stands when she is supposed to sit and be still. She speaks when she is supposed to be silent. She is silent when she is supposed to speak. She is handsy, especially when speaking with men. She hangs around in unsavoury places that no godly woman should go near. Plainly, she is indiscreet in her conduct.

All believers represent Jesus Christ as His ambassadors. How they behave and speak reflects Christ. God, in Christ, has made all His beloved children beautiful within and without. They have the Holy Spirit, also called the Spirit of Christ, within them, helping them to be beautiful on the inside. With the help of the Holy Spirit within, all believers must be beautiful without in their speech and actions.

A believer’s witness is manifested in only two ways. The first is by what he says. The second is by what he does, including what he wears. His mind and heart, which determine his motives and thoughts, are invisible to the naked eye but very important to God. The beginning of every sinner’s salvation is from within. He may be sincere in his motive, but he can still bear a bad witness for Christ if his outward testimony is not according to Scripture. For example, a Christian dresses inappropriately when he comes to church, arguing that as long as his motive is sincere, it does not matter how he looks outwardly. Such reasoning is fallacious and against the teaching of God's Word. He hurts the image of Christ with his inappropriate dressing. Sincerity is not an acceptable substitute for God's truth. Sincerity is important when the deed is done in accordance with God's truth.

The biblical instruction on the importance of outward and inward appearance for Christian women is taught in 1 Peter 3:1-4: “¹Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; ²While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. ³Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; ⁴But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.”

Let us all take care of both the inward and outward beauty wisely for God’s glory and the blessing of everyone. Remember the pig with the golden jewel.