We all have talents and gifts that God has given us. Some are given musical talents, others the gift of singing, others intelligence, and also, to some, God makes them more beautiful and stronger. However, it is important to reflect on some biblical cases. Apart from this, God also gives spiritual gifts, which we will discuss in another study.
THE CASE OF QUEEN ESTHER
For Esther, a young Jewish woman living in the capital of the Persian Empire, the gift God gave her was extraordinary beauty. The story recounts how the king’s courtiers searched throughout the kingdom for a virgin maiden to marry King Ahasuerus, and Esther was chosen. Sometimes, those who are the most beautiful or handsome are the least spiritual, but that was certainly not the case for Esther. Besides maintaining her purity as a maiden, she also had a rich inner life (see Esther 2). She had her own character and personality and was clear that she should honor God above all else. She also demonstrated great courage and intelligence in the face of adversity. She was a woman who fasted, felt her duty to God, and when the Jewish people were in danger, she used her position as queen (putting herself in danger) to save her people.
“Go, gather all the Jews who are present in [a]Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” Esther 4:16
THE CASE OF KING DAVID
Another person who had beauty was King David.
“So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking…” 1 Samuel 16:12
However, King David always put God first in everything. Since he was a teenager, he was clear that God was the one who gave him victories, God was the one who could bless him and make him defeat Goliath.
“Moreover David said, ‘The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the LORD be with you!‘” 1 Samuel 17:37
It’s so evident how he put God in his life regardless of others that he sang praises to God with the people, to the point that one day his wife Michal reproached him for it because it embarrassed her.
“Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, ‘How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!’ So David said to Michal, ‘It was before the LORD, who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel. Therefore I will play music before the LORD.’” 2 Samuel 6:20-21
These two biblical characters were beautiful, but for them, their beauty or strength was not important, but rather honoring God.
However, we see in the world how there are many people to whom God gives beauty, others try to achieve it as if they were to achieve something, and others live exclusively for their body, when our true beauty and strength should come from honoring God.
BUT I’M SINGLE, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Many times I see brothers and sisters in the Churches who focus a lot on their appearance, on looking handsome or beautiful, on dressing stylishly, and also on dressing sexy (wearing tight clothes, flashy colors, or revealing more than usual of their body). Of course, they are single, and there is an age for everything, but what does the Bible say?
First of all, God has prepared for each of us our “suitable helper.” So if you’re using your clothing or your body to try to attract them, that’s not the best way.
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.‘” Genesis 2:18
Therefore, be more than sure that God cares about you and about bringing your suitable partner to you.
However, if I dress, appear, and look like let’s say a “non-spiritual” person, what I will attract are people who focus on the superficial and external, and not on the internal. Is that what we want? Do we want to attract superficial people? Do we want to give the impression that we are easy and lustful?
The apostle Paul made it clear for whom we should dress, put on makeup, and look:
“But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”1 Corinthians 7:32-35
If we let ourselves be guided by what the masses do, indeed, as singles we will dress like the world, trying to attract the opposite sex with flashy, tight, sexy, trendy clothing, etc. The Word does not say that we should dress poorly, because a Christian should dress decently, but for the Lord.
“Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation.” 1 Timothy 2:9
If we dress for the world, we will attract people from the world and not the suitable one whom God has prepared for us. Moreover, we may cause others to sin with desires of fornication or adultery without even realizing it.
Let’s ask ourselves this question: Could the maiden Esther have been chosen if she had not been a true maiden (virgin, modest, and modest), or would they have chosen for the king an unrestrained, provocative young woman who drew attention?
