As I’ve begun to age more visibly in recent years, it has forced me to contemplate the value of beauty.
I’ve always prided myself on not really caring much about my appearance. It’s not as though I do NOTHING to accentuate the positives in my appearance, but I do very little.
At least in comparison to many of my peers. I don’t color my hair, I only get it cut about once every 4-6 months, in fact. My makeup routine takes about 5 minutes tops. Some days I don’t even bother putting it on. As for clothes, I’m pretty sure I’m still wearing my faves from 5-10 years ago so clearly vanity is not much of an issue for me.
I’ve been unable to justify the cost of beauty, and I can’t seem to explain away spending a decent chunk of time enhancing it. Until recently.
In my musings, I have come to realize that beauty, like anything else, is a gift. Much like brains, or money, or talent. Possessing any number of these gifts only becomes a problem when it is self-serving or when one prioritizes it above the most important things in life.
Even God never said money is not the root of evil but that the love of money is the root of all evil. Can’t the same be said for any talent or gift? Beauty in and of itself does not corrupt, but the love of it certainly can.
Take the story of Esther in the Old Testament, for example. The king favored her. Why? Well, among other things she was beautiful. Did she use that beauty to influence? Yes she did. Was it self-serving? No, it wasn’t. She gained favor in the kings sight and later combined it with courage to save her people.
God also says in 1 Samuel 16:7 that “man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart”. So wouldn’t beauty be a distraction from what really matters? It can be. I mean, if someone blessed with a gorgeous exterior uses it to manipulate others or sell unsavory web content it is most certainly the antithesis of what God would want. And that it how it is with all blessings we receive from Him.
Take riches, for instance. The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob tells us “but before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” He goes on. “And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good- to clothe the naked and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.”
Does God care about riches? Nope. Does he want us to care about riches? Nope. But if we acquire them in this life, is he pleased when we use them to do good? Darn-tootin’ absolutely.
Think of Bill and Melinda Gates. Certainly he is more pleased with their intent to bless the lives of others through their foundation than with those whose riches bear the stain of human trafficking or illegal drug sales.
Back to beauty though. God cares little about our appearance. He wants us to know that we are all precious in his sight, despite our various circumstances in mortal life. However, to enhance one’s physical appearance is not particularly worthy of disdain. Our intentions determine how we will be judged.
So I’ll quit rolling my eyes at my friends who sell beauty on online platforms. Because they also bear frequent testimony of God and his goodness. They are examples of faith and family. They use their beauty to influence others to be good and do good. And why shouldn’t they?