#priorities

"Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Proverbs 31:30)

When I was a teenager, I struggled a little with Proverbs 31. I felt this woman set the bar impossibly high. (I know some of y'all feel me.) I mean, this woman spins and cooks and sews clothing (and bed coverings!). She's in real estate. She's in the fashion industry. She's a teacher.

She does it alllllll. She. Is. Exhausting. Whew.

It wasn't until I was an adult that I understood this woman wasn't actively doing all these things herself. She had servants. She managed her servants, and she oversaw her household. Once I realized this passage wasn't a standard I was expected to live up to, I was able to focus on the overall picture. And then I was able to see the most important part.

"... a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

But let's break down those first two phrases.

"Charm is deceitful ..." Wow. That's contrary to what many people believe, isn't it? We think of charm and charming as good things. Just ask Cinderella. But did you know the word charm originates from a Latin word meaning incantation or magic spell? I imagine that's why it's referred to here as deceitful.

And what about beauty? "... beauty is vain ..." I doubt this one needs much explanation, but just in case it does, how about this: have you ever stood in the grocery checkout line and seen those tabloids with headlines that say Celebrities Caught Without Makeup! The cosmetic industry earns an estimated $95 BILLION each year. That's b-b-b-billion with a B. And lest you think I'm talking to women only, that figure includes skin care, hair care, and fragrance, so gentlemen, I'm looking at you, too. That's a lot of money dedicated to our outward appearance isn't it? And there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to look your best. In spite of my uniform of jeans and T-shirts, I do try to look halfway decent. ;-)

Now let's look at that last phrase once more. "... a woman [or man] who fears the Lord is to be praised." And there it is. THAT'S the priority.

When I fear (love and respect) the Lord, He is pleased with me. I am worthy of praise. And isn't that what we should all want?