What Makes a Woman Truly Beautiful?
What makes a woman beautiful? Is it her face, her hair, or her figure? Modern magazines have many metrics for judging beauty, using specific measurements and standards for height and silhouette. Pageants present us with a "most beautiful woman in the world," leading many men to wish they could have her and many women to wish they could be her. Yet, when you look closely, you often find that these same women struggle to maintain a marriage or keep a man.
Why can’t a "beautiful" woman keep a man? While her appearance might attract many, her inward character—arrogance, shallowness, or a nagging spirit—eventually repulses even the most superficial of men. Many beautiful women mistakenly believe that physical looks alone are enough to sustain a relationship. They confuse the attention born of lust with genuine love, only to be left broken by a revolving door of men in their lives.
Physical beauty is not a sufficient reason to marry. Many men have ruined their lives and invited lifelong misery by pursuing a woman simply for her looks. A woman accustomed to constant praise for her appearance may, unless she is in submission to God, develop a spirit of entitlement. In marriage, this arrogance rears its head, and a man may realize the "physically beautiful" woman he married has a rebellious spirit. We must remember that even the devil is described as a beautiful being.
The devil was an outwardly beautiful being, but his beauty caused him to become proud and entitled. He refused to submit to the Lord's authority, developed a spirit of independence, and challenged God until the relationship was broken and he was cast out. Similarly, a woman who constantly challenges her husband, refuses to submit, and possesses a nagging spirit can cause a man misery worse than physical pain.
While a physically attractive woman is lovely to behold, do not let her beauty blind you to her character. Physical beauty fades with age, but character is long-lasting. Be wary of choosing a spouse who is rebellious or refuses to be advised. These traits only magnify in marriage; without prayer, a man may grow bitter and come to hate his own home.
A truly beautiful woman is humble and submissive to her husband. She understands that if her husband loves her and demonstrates that love by providing for and protecting her, she can safely submit to his God-appointed leadership. There is a great difference between telling a husband what to do and offering wise advice. As the Scripture says, "The husband is the head of the wife" (Ephesians 5:23).
A beautiful woman seeks to honor her husband and promote his glory. She asks, "How can I make my husband’s life better? How can I make this home a piece of heaven on earth?" She is a wise woman who listens to understand rather than just to respond. She makes decisions with her husband, rather than acting independently and then informing him later, as Eve did in the garden.
A submissive woman is a truly strong woman. She is strong enough to subdue the spirit of revolt in her own heart to obey God’s will. By honoring her husband’s leadership, she demonstrates her love for him. Even when she disagrees, she finds the best way to bring up the issue, using sweet and tender words. She is not ruled by her emotions; rather, she is strong enough through the grace of God to rule over them. Such a woman is a gem—a precious ruby.
A beautiful woman submits to God first. She makes the Lord her "first husband," submitting her desires to Him and choosing a mate based on His standards. She says, "I will submit to my husband because he is a gift from God, and I want to love him as Jesus loves me."
A beautiful woman is not an empty shell. She is filled with the love of God and fills her husband’s life with that overflow. She has no problem with leadership because she has already submitted to the King of Kings. In a world of "fake everything," a godly, humble, and submissive character is something that cannot be faked. It is a sight to behold.
Pray to God for such a woman.
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