The World vs. Women
There are many
sad elements to the account of mankind’s fall in the Garden of Eden. The
repercussions of these can be seen in the dysfunctions of the whole world and
human nature today (n.b, God did not make man ‘human’ as such, meaning subject
to decay. We became so after the fall in Eden.) One particularly sad element is
the fact that Eve felt the need to take up Satan’s offer to become “as gods” (Genesis 3:5). Lucifer, when in
Heaven, developed a delusion that he could somehow compete with God (Isaiah 14:14). Now in the form of a slick
serpent, he convinced Eve to descend into the same delusion. To have such a
covetous intention, Eve must not have realised how blessed she already was. Eve
and Adam had the image of God, and therefore already possessed godly quality (Genesis
1:27)... What more could you want?
Now we see where this widespread
female mind-set originates–our original mother, Eve. This mentality in many
women of not being happy with themselves as they are or with what they have.
Just look at the patterns of behaviour in women of the world. Always competing
with one another, allowing envy and jealousy to arise if they see someone who
is deemed as being ‘better’ than them. Nowhere is this more so evident than in
the field of ‘beauty’. Even in the current time of economic decline, the
cosmetic industry is thriving as women try to be more like others, especially
the celebrity idols paraded before them in the media daily. Many black and
Asian people are using skin bleaches. There are women who paint different faces
on daily. Anorexia and bulimia is on the rise as females turn on their natural bodies.
Why are ladies always trying to be something beyond what they’ve been made?
Thank God
the women in the Church do not have to fall prey to these ideas. Thank God we
know each and every one of us is precious and unique in God’s eyes and there is
no need to ever feel inadequate. Thank God we know it is foolish to compare
oneself with others (2 Corinth 10:12). Thank God, He blesses us individually
with gifts (1 Corinth 12:4) and we do not need to feel in competition with
anyone around us. Thank God He gives His Spirit freely and universally (Acts
11:17), and this is the same beauty to be displayed by every one of us (1 Peter
3:3-4). Thank God He (-most important) loves us unconditionally and gives us
family, friends (Prov 17:17) and brethren who do the same; so we never need
fall prey to insecurity. Thank God He teaches us that ‘godliness with
contentment is great gain’ (1 Timothy 6:6) so we need never fall prey to
covetousness.
Thank God
the women of His fold realise their inherent preciousness and are too concerned
in the real issues of His kingdom than who has a bigger house or smaller waist
than them! Proverbs 18:22 says “whoso
findeth a wife findeth a good thing,’ so if having a woman in your life is
such a ‘good thing,’ it must mean women are something special! Psalm 144:12
says “that our daughters may be as corner
stones, polished after the similitude of a palace.” Stones are steadfast
and sturdy; women who are the stones in the house of God are not like the lost,
insecure women of the world, who attempt to change under the pressures of every
new passing fashion. Thank God we know we don’t have to live for the fleeting
insignificance of our physical aspect (Proverbs 31:0 ‘...beauty is vain.’).
As a saint, you may observe and
recognise the struggle of the women around you daily, battling with insecurity,
broken esteem, weighed down by the pressures of this sin stained
world...wearied by dysfunctional relationships...Why not tell them there is a
God who loves them so wholly that He died for them? All the problems and
dysfunctions we face are simply summed up in by sin. Its destruction started at
Eden and it ends only when one comes to Jesus. Let them know He has made a way
to set them free from the burdens they feel they are under and teach them they
are a precious soul (whereas this world teaches them they are merely objects,
to be desired and lusted after...just look
at all the messages popular magazines bombard them with!). Also let them
know Jesus offers a love and mercy so deep that everything else they are going
through pales in insignificance against it.
In all the
women of the world’s pursuit to be desirable and beautiful and attractive,
there is a great irony: The irony is that there are fewer things more truly
beautiful and really attractive than a godly woman who concerns herself with
godly love and caring (Proverbs 31:10) and carries herself simply with grace
and dignity. Also, instead of not being happy with herself and comparing
herself with others, to the contrary, this kind of woman knows that what she’s already got is good (Provs 31:18)!
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