What is beauty? It can be defined in several ways, depending largely on context. You could call a person and a landscape beautiful, but is it the same? I don't think so.
"Beautiful" is kind of a loosely used word. As already mentioned, people and nature can be described as beautiful. But so can animals, interior decorating, food, architecture, landscaping...even technological items, such as computers or cameras or mp3 players, could be described as beautiful (although maybe only by a very techie kind of person).
When I think of beauty, I tend to think of people. And that begs the question - what makes a person beautiful? And I really can't answer that question. Beauty, to humans, is subjective.
It can also be judgmental. I know I'm not the only one who sometimes makes a decision about a person's character based on their outward appearance before even meeting them. This, I know very well, is wrong.
The only definition of beauty really worth caring about is God's. And when God looks at people, He doesn't see their outward appearance, though He knows and loves everyone just the way they are. He created them, for crying out loud, and this fact convicts me time and again. But that's kind of off-topic.
God looks at people's hearts. And if their hearts are right, in a place of humility before Him, then to Him they are beautiful.
My desires are that 1) my heart is beautiful in God's sight, and 2) He helps me not to judge people by outward, false beauty, which fades.
True beauty is all that matters. Man, insignificant, mortal man, looks at the outward appearance and draws potentially limiting and even condemning conclusions as to a person's character. God, everlasting, perfect, awesome God, looks at the heart and sees man for what he or she really is, no matter how handsome/beautiful, well dressed, and put together they may seem on the outside.
4 comments:
That's very deep. Your "two desires" are spot-on. The thing about beauty which amazes me is that God sees how very ugly we really are, but still chooses to take our ugliness on Himself and give us His beauty.
I know, man. I have to say, your other posts are totally awesome, but I'd have to say this so far is your best.
*Three cheers*
I would have to say it is the best because it probably has most effectively made me look at my own heart. Though your last post did the same.
At the Worship God conference David Pawlison said about one of the Psalms, "In other words what it is saying is 'Every time you look to me, look to yourself.'" So, I thought your posted said or rather declared this message ever so clearly. I can see that Colin felt the same.
It is safe to say that this post was indeed beautiful, in that it so evidently showed God's compassion through it.
whoa, sry about the terrible grammer. hahahaaaa, well you get the point.
Colin...you're right, that is amazing. And it's something we'll probably never fully understand.
Ben...I did get the point. :)
Thank you both for commenting. Glad I could be of use.
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