When I think of physical beauty in women, I think of the Bible’s Esther. She won a national beauty contest and became the Queen of Medo-Persia, the most powerful empire of that day (Esther 2:1-18). Working from that position she became the vessel through which God kept Haman (an Old Testament version of Adolf Hitler) from wiping out the entire Jewish race. Do you know what that shows? It shows that God can use physical beauty to accomplish His work.

Unfortunately, Satan can use it to accomplish his work too, right? Every pornographic film, dirty magazine, scantily clad model, and “sex object” singer or starlet is evidence of that. These all feature prime examples of beautiful women who are using their physical beauty to entice men to lust.

One of Solomon’s reasons for writing the book of Proverbs had to do with his son, Rehoboam. Solomon wanted Rehoboam to receive the book’s words of wisdom and treasure them in his heart (Proverbs 2:1). Not surprisingly, the book includes multiple passages that warn against a man being seduced by a woman who is beautiful but immoral (2:10-22; 5:1-23; 6:20-35; 7:6-27; and 9:13-18). According to Solomon, these women wear the sexually alluring attire of a harlot (7:10) and use their physical beauty to create lust (6:25).

In stark contrast to such women, the book of Proverbs closes with an extensive passage that describes the godly woman (31:10-31). Verse 30 of that passage makes a point of saying that “beauty is passing.” This thought is similar to one presented in Psalm 49:14, which says that beauty shall be “consumed in the grave.”

So, the real issue is: How will a woman use her beauty during those years in which she has it? Will she be an Esther who uses it for God’s glory? Or will she use it to tempt, entice, allure, and manipulate men to accomplish the devil’s purposes? I’ll close this post by citing yet another passage from Proverbs, Proverbs 11:22 to be precise. It’s a verse that women in every age need to heed. It says simply:

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. (N.K.J.V.)