True Value

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
TRUE VALUE
Prov 11:22
22 Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
NIV
Amidst all the talk about the righteous and the wicked here stands this comment about a beautiful woman. What truth should I glean for my life from this? I agree, I have met some extremely good looking women in my days until they open they mouth. I have heard the most vile words and attitudes expressed from the most these outwardly charming women. I have to admit at the sound of those voices I was immediately disenchanted with them, no matter their appearance. Although my wife is beautiful on the outside, I have often said to her, that her real beauty is in her eyes, for they are the window to her soul which is truly beautiful. Of what value is the outward appearance of any person? All the effort spent on the outside and very little to no effort is spent on the inside. The world certainly would have me believe it is all about my body. If I listened to them I would get in shape right now, I would be fit and have six pack abs, and look and feel like I was twenty-five. I would have more of everything because I looked good. I could brush away just enough gray so I looked young enough to do whatever, but wise enough to know how. If I listened to the world I would be on the right diet so my body would stay thin, last forever, and everyone would like me and think good things about how I looked, except those fat people who would be jealous and hate me. But that is just me, what about how much time, effort and money is spent by the women of this world on the outside alone, and I think it has nothing to do with looking good for men, but rather to compete with all the other women. But back to my life and how I think this speaks to how I should approach it. Although I do look in the mirror and I do notice changes, for the most part it is the effects of aging which I see. I cannot change that, I cannot delay it nor can I erase or cover it up. Aging is a fact of life, at least since the time Adam changed everything by his disobedience. I will not be able to really to anything about this process, but what I can do is enhance my inner self, the true me, the real me, my spirit. The only way is can be done is in my relationship with my Lord and Savior. Nothing on the outside has anywhere the value of what is on the inside, in fact the outside has no value at all compared to the value of what is on the inside. I have seen so much outward beauty that is but an empty shell housing filth and wickedness on the inside. I think that is why the world which is controlled by the devil himself devotes so much attention to the outward, so that the place of true value remains void. I shall forever be grateful to my Lord for his intervention in my life, so I can see my true value.