There are many things to learn from the Proverbs 31 woman.   Verse 30, in particular, is full of wisdom for women as it relates to vanity and concern for physical beauty.

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

An article from Grace Communion International provides excellent insight into this particular verse and helps us understand the application of it.

Here is the key to this woman’s effectiveness. Her priorities are determined by God’s will, not her own. She is concerned about what God thinks, rather than with what other people think. Physical beauty and clever conversation are admirable qualities. But if a woman’s beauty and charm are the extent of her virtues, what happens when time and the trials of life take their toll? This woman does not depend on beauty and charm for her success. She recognizes her need for God.

I know that I’m going to step on some toes here, but my question is does all the items that a woman take to “beautify” herself equate a necessity for the budget?  Or are we giving in to worldly standards as Christians?

Let’s first look at the financial cost for a basic beauty bag:

• Base: $8
• Blush: $6
• Lipstick: $4
• Night Cream: $8
• Make-up Remover: $7
• Nail Polish $4
• Eye Liner: $5
• Mascara: $9
• Lotion: $6

This is for a one month’s supply of low cost items from a mainstream retailer.  If I shopped at a store in the mall, it could easily triple if not be much more.  So the total would be $57 plus tax making it about $61 in my state.  Using the minimum wage ($7.25) as my base then minus taxes, it would take you about eleven and a half hours to earn the makeup each month!!!  Do you realize you are spending at minimum a fourth of a week each month just paying for your makeup?  Then add in the time that you spend applying the makeup.  Assuming you are quick about it and only take 15 minutes in the morning to apply and 15 minutes in the evening to remove it, then you are spending 15 hours every month applying and removing the makeup.

Now, take that to a yearly total:

• $732 spent on makeup
• 138 hours or about 6 days earning your makeup
• 180 hours or 7 1/2 days applying your makeup

For a total of 318 hours or 13 1/2 days dealing with beauty.

And the average Christian is likely to have shared their faith 1-2 times a year!

Does this show where our priorities are?

While we should like nice, clean, and neat, that does not mean that we have to spend a lot of time and money on beauty products.  As a woman, I have come to realize that my beauty comes from the inside where the Messiah lives to the outside.  I personally do not bother with makeup because I want people to see me for who I am not what I look like.  Saves me a lot of money too!

So will you consider where your priorities are?  Are you striving to be the Proverbs 31 woman as it relates to your perspective on vanity and following God’s will for your life?