“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
It’s a phrase we hear often. We repeat it, accept it, and move on with our lives.
But is it really true? Is beauty really in the eye of the beholder?
I was on a podcast recently and the conversation turned to the topic of beauty. We discussed the role of outward appearances for Christians today. Should we care about how we look in the mirror? Should we not care at all? Does a Christ-like posture fall somewhere in between?
The truth is, Scripture gives us a much clearer answer than we might expect:
Beauty is not found in the eye of the beholder; true beauty is found in the eye of the Creator.
God Sees Beauty Differently
God measures beauty much differently than we do. He cares more about our hearts than the state of our hair. But even still, the Bible does not ignore physical realities entirely.
For example, we are told that Rachel was beautiful in face and figure (Genesis 29:17). We learn that Abigail was so striking that David stole her away from her husband (1 Samuel 25:3). Joseph and Daniel were known for their looks. Even King Saul—Israel’s first king—was literally head and shoulders above his countrymen. It was his stature and appearance that made him impressive–which is why the people chose him to be king in the first place.
They measured his beauty by outward appearance.
And yet, God eventually removed His anointing from Saul. Instead, He gave the crown to a humble shepherd. And why did God choose David as king? Because David was a man after God’s own heart. God knew that David’s heart was devoted to Him, entirely, and that David would do “everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22).
God saw David as beautiful–not because of how he looked on the outside, but because of who he was on the inside. That is God’s definition of beauty.
Inner Beauty Lasts
Yes, people often have personal preferences when it comes to beauty. We’re drawn to different features, different styles, and different physical expressions. That’s often what we mean when we say beauty is “in the eye of the beholder.” Different people like different looks!
But God chooses something else entirely when considering beauty: the beauty of the inner self.
Peter writes about this in his first epistle, saying this to the women of the early church:
“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. (1 Peter 3:3-4, NIV)
As the outer self weakens, the inner self—when shaped by Christ and the Scriptures—becomes more beautiful.
From twenty to forty. From sixty to eighty. We become more beautiful as we age, not less.
So, as you step into your day, ask yourself this:
How are you measuring beauty right now?
In others?
In creation?
In yourself?
True beauty is not found in the eye of the beholder, it is found in the eye of the Creator.
Now make it a beautiful day.
Blessings,
