Day 66 – 90 Days in Proverbs - Gilded Pig
Proverbs 11:22 [CSB] A beautiful woman who rejects good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
These days, we use this phrase: “Like putting lipstick on a pig” to make the same point as Solomon is making here. Jewelry or makeup doesn’t mask reality. Perhaps our modern phrase evolved from this Proverb.
However someone may try to dress it up, bad character is still there and God can see it. Usually, it will also eventually be revealed to others.
There is nothing wrong with good genes that make others consider you beautiful. There isn’t anything wrong with taking care of your hair and body, or in wearing nice clothes or makeup. The problem comes in when the outer beauty is at odds with the inner character.
The King James Version uses the term “without discretion” but the word can mean literally without taste (like for food) or figuratively without a taste for judgement, discernment or reason. So, “a beautiful woman who rejects good sense” is someone who has access to sound judgement and guidance but doesn’t use it.
Sweet sisters, this is a warning for all believers. We have access to the Father. We have access to the Bible. We have the Holy Spirit in us. If we reject the sound judgement, guidance and influence of these resources, then we become like that pig wearing jewelry.
1 Timothy 2:9-10 offers similar advice, [NKJV] 9 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10 but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. Far from rejecting good character, we should be adorning ourselves with it.
The book of Proverbs is a great resource for gaining understanding, good judgement, discernment and reasoning skills. We’ve spent more than 60 days learning from some of those nuggets of truth.
It is so easy to get distracted by other voices in this life. It is what Satan wants. Human nature, Satan, and the world around us that is primarily led by these, encourages us to act irresponsibly, take revenge, lash out in anger, to put self-interest over the interest of others, and in many other ways reject the teachings of the Bible and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
These are not the character qualities of a godly woman. The character qualities of a godly person are found in Galatians 5:22-23. These qualities include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and self control.
My grandmother used to say, “you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear”. (Side note: I don’t know how pigs became the go-to animal for this, but they seem to be just that.) God never considers anyone to be a sow, sweet sister. He has always loved us and has always considered us precious to Him. However, our character, apart from the Holy Spirit can be something that is pretty ugly, at least at times.
The transformation of a godly woman is something like turning a sow’s ear into a silk purse – taking an odd item that many would consider to be of no value and transforming it into something where its true value shines through.
The love of God, the sacrifice of Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit do radically change us. They transform us into a new creation that is beautiful and useful. They do this IF we don’t reject them or the good sense that is available through them.
Sisters, God isn’t looking to put jewelry or lipstick on our human character. He looking to transform our character – to transform us – from our old selves into something entirely new and differnt.
Prayer — Father God, You call me beloved. You made me beautiful and You seek to transform me into a reflection of You – of Your good character, love and mercy. You seek to infuse me with Your own wisdom and to guide me to have good sense and to make wise decisions. Thank You for Your word and the Holy Spirit that can transform me in this way. Please lead us today to be women of beautiful character, who are adorned with good works, so that we are beautiful inside. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Your thoughts —
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