9 Jun, 2009
Beauty Pageant
Over a 10-week period this summer, nearly 200 young Saudi women are auditioning for a beauty pageant, but one called "Miss Beautiful Morals," in which physical attractiveness is irrelevant, replaced by judging of the ladies' observance of traditional Saudi values, especially the honoring of their mothers.
Saudi Arabia does have pageants devoted to physical beauty, as reported in News of the Weird in 2007 and 2008, but those are contests for camels and goats, based on such criteria as (according to one camel breeder) "big eyes, long lashes and a long neck."
[Indianapolis Star-AP, 5-7-09]
Proverbs 31:10,30 [NIV]
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
What does God's Story teach us about women of true beauty?
Today's story is refreshing to see in a world that pushes young women to always look their best, be slimmer and wear all of the right styles...which don't exactly fall into the "modest" category.
God's Word supports such a "beauty pageant". Proverbs 31 focuses on a woman of noble character. If you read it in its entirety, you will find what God defines as a beautiful woman. A few of the "criteria" for judging in His pageant would be:
- Hard working from early in the morning until late at night
- Strength
- Concern for the poor and the needy
- Prepared
- Dignified
- Wise
- Good advisor
- Respected
- Noble
- Godly
Wow...who wouldn't want a friend, a wife or a mom like that!?! Yet, we so easily find ourselves honoring those who are beautiful on the outside...and striving to be beautiful on the outside ourselves.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and my story?
- If you are a female in today's world...concentrate on the list that Proverbs 31 teaches us. This doesn't mean that it is wrong to dress nice and look pretty. It just means that this is not your main concern. Instead your main concern becomes modesty, integrity, Godliness, wisdom, honesty, kindness, compassion...and then you trust that God (IF His will is for you to be married) will bring the right man into your life...not because you were skinny, wore revealing clothes or had just the right make up...but because he saw that you were a beautiful person.
- If you are a young man growing up in today's world...God's Word call you to resist the temptations of this world, seek purity and not look lustfully at your sisters. If you will commit to honoring God's definition of a beautiful woman, it will help the ladies around you be just that. And remember, God tells us that finding such a young woman is worth more than rubies!
How can we connect today's story, God's Story and my story with my friend's story?
- Share today's story with a female friend of yours...ask her if she would rather be judged by what's on the outside or what's on the inside. This ought to start an interesting conversation!
- Ask her if she feels pressure to look just a certain way...and then share with her what you are pursuing and why.
- Be sure to let her know that there is a heavenly Father who loves her and thinks she is the most beautiful daughter in the world just the way she is...and that any of the "ugly" stuff can be forgiven just by asking Him.
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