Christian Pitfalls: Vanity

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:30 (ESV)

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 (ESV)

Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

1 Peter 3:3-4 (NKJV)

Vanity’s definitions are two-fold, and they’re sequential… because the first turns into the second.

  1. Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.

  2. The quality of being worthless or futile. (Oxford Dictionary)

King Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes near the end of his “overflowing” life– cascading with wives, wealth, and achievements. He reflected on the futility of material accumulation, accomplishment– and things most people want…

Which raises some significant questions:

  • Should we abandon the use of makeup, cut down on clothes and the cool bling we own?

  • Should we stop building massive skyscrapers? Are they “towers of Babylon” to God?

  • Should we disdain high-brow church credentials, notably “doctors of divinity?”

  • Should we refuse fame and high positions, as a precaution against vanity?

  • Should we steer clear of jobs that pay big bucks, so we’ll pass through the eye of God’s needle?

Not necessarily, if they’re tempered with HUMILITY… and we avoid excess in worldly “fluff”!

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Within you, I see uncommon wisdom! I truly believe you’re fully aware of these familiar, worldly temptations.

In the flashy fields of entertainment… certainly, you must be “dressed for success,” but the elegance of simplicity is appealing and WILL BE respected. 

You realize you’ve got to play the game in ways your audience can relate to… but you can, should, and must use temperance: an old-fashioned word that’s still pertinent

Christian Pitfalls: Vanity (Part 43)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players.’ Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.

Carey Arban