Appearance

Short                                          Tall
Ugly                                            Beautiful
Fat                                             Thin

The adjectives on the left are what society, especially American society, show at least one quality considers someone unattractive would have. On the other hand, a person who is tall, beautiful, and/or thin are qualities that many people considered attractive would have. While this is not universally a truth, much of what a society dictates as beautiful will have an impact on one’s self-esteem and social life.

What is wrong with being tall, beautiful, and thin? Nothing is wrong with that. But something is wrong when looks become a form of idolatry. Children are teased because of their weight. Young men and women are literally dying to be thin or muscular. People have wasted countless amounts of money wanting “perfection”, something that does not exist. None of us are perfect. While looks are important, it is not a god, nor should it be viewed as one either. For example, many people of various ages and backgrounds have been called up for job interviews. Job interviews can be scary. It is as if the potential employer or recruiter is sizing up and you are nervous because you have to make a good first impression because that first impression is how that judge determines whether or not one gets the job, alongside the qualifications. However, it is one thing to look presentable for a job interview. It is another thing to look at someone and assume that they aren’t qualified just on the basis of physical characteristics such as skin, hair, or eye color, weight, height, or physical features. It is not fair for employers or anyone for that matter who make blanket assumptions based on one’s appearance. Jesus warned us against false prophets and the Bible consistently gives us the message that it is the condition of ones heart and one’s soul that is important, soul being the top priority. What we do, not how we look determines our eternal destiny.

Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
Deut 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find [him], if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
1K3:9 Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?
1C 29:9 Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.
1C 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.
2C 12:14 And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
Psa 101:4 A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked [person].
Pro 23:33 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
Ecc 7:22 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
1 Thess 5:22-24 (22) Abstain from all appearance of evil. (23) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].
Prov 21:2 Every way of a man [is] right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 1 Kings 3:12 Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee
Matt. 12:34 …for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Matt. 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Eccl. 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Ps. 73:7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.

Notice that one’s looks do not take top priority in the above verses. It is one’s heart and one’s soul that does. Solomon is the wise king has written about the perils of the wicked, the ungodly, and the foolish in most of Proverbs. David writes of the way of the wicked versus the way of the righteous in Psalm 1. The Book of Revelation writes about the foolishes of those who do not repent for their idolatries and other sins, and their eternal destiny for rejecting God. No where in these verses or chapter does it say anything about one’s looks. I am not saying that we should not take care of ourselves or look modest because we are judged by our appearance, but it is the weightier matters of the heart that God is concerned with. That is what Jesus was telling the Pharisees in Matthew 23. That is what shallowness is about. According to dictionary.com, shallow means foolish, or lacking in depth. Being a Christian is about looking beyond the surface and to follow Jesus to be concerned with the matters of the heart. There are many that are physically attractive by society’s standards that are hideous on the inside because they lack integrity and because they do not know the Lord. People who are physically attractive, are not always respected or taken seriously, (even if one has depth of character or is spiritual which is not fair or right by any means). Usually it is the one who has talent, morals, character, and depth, even if one is physically average who is respected and taken seriously. In other words, one needs a backup plan if he or she wants to be taken seriously and expect to survive in this world. People usually respect others because of who they are not how they look. That is why being shallow is a road to being foolish, for the foolish lack wisdom.