Devotions: Worthy of True Praise

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Who are we trying to impress? The way we act reveals much. A person who actively uses charm is trying to manipulate, if only to get others to like them. A person who is obsessed with their appearance is trying to please others with their looks. Charm is deceitful because it is persuading people to believe a person’s character is different than it really is. Beauty is vain because it is empty. John Meyer is quoted as saying that “the only way to be beautiful is to be loving. Otherwise it’s just congratulations about your face.” Physical beauty is only skin deep and it doesn’t last. In a way, it is deceptive as well, especially if the person actively enhances their appearance to make themselves “better” than what they are. Both of these, charm and beauty, reveal the hidden motive of pleasing people, seeking their praise. Fearing God (that is reverence not timidity) is more important. That is what inspires true praise because then we are trying to please God rather than man. The praise of man is as vain as physical beauty; empty and useless. We will never get enough to satisfy, and it is impossible to please everyone. But pleasing God? that is doable, because He has already given us what we need to accomplish it: faith. All we need to do is esteem Him above all others, worship none but Him, submit our lives to Him. A heart wholly devoted to Him is the only attribute truly worthy of praise, praise that will last. Who are you trying to impress? To what extent are you willing to go to get praise? Whom do you “fear” more, God or man?

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