Proverbs 31 Challenge: Beauty

She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Proverbs 31:22

Of all the verses that describe the virtuous woman, this is probably the most surprising one. All the hard work, the effort to take care of others, the willingness to invest time in skillful work are expected characteristics. We shouldn’t be surprised to learn that a godly woman does all that. But now a verse about her home decorations and clothing?

I think we can sometimes get so caught up in the need to be hard-working and industrious that we forget the value of beauty. Beauty, of course, is not the end for which we should strive or the matter around which our lives should orbit. It isn’t of highest priority or importance. It isn’t the pinnacle towards which we climb.

That doesn't mean, though, that it has no importance at all. It doesn’t mean beauty should be ignored, thrown out the widow, rejected as a vain endeavor. Beauty should have a place in the life of a Christian woman, especially one striving to be more like the Proverbs 31 woman.

Your home, whether an urban apartment, humble mobile, or single-family house, should be a place you and your family enjoy. It should be a place you all get excited about heading to after a long day or work, school, or errands. It should be a place where everyone can gather, rest, share, and grow together. It should be a place where your family glorifies Christ in every way. There’s no shame in investing time, skill, and resources into making it a beautiful place, because making it beautiful and enjoyable will help make it everything it should be.

The same goes for how we dress. We can care about our appearance and avoid vanity at the same time. The clothing we choose communicate something to everyone around us. What are your clothing choices saying about you? Whether we like it or not, sweats can convey as negative a message as an immodest dress. There is nothing wrong with taking a few extra minutes each morning to pick out something that reflects our character a little bit better.

Our challenge this week? Think about how you can make your home and your style better reflect Christ. Is there a mess in the kitchen that only speaks of neglect? Does your clothing make you seem lazy or like you don’t care about modesty? Lets make changes to fix that and align this aspect of our lives to Scripture as well.