VANITY & MODESTY
VANITY & MODESTY, “WORTH CONSIDERING” 9/6/20 From Ken<><
As you fool around with the Internet and YouTube, you come across lots of interesting things. While surfing the other day, I came across this rather bland faced Chinese girl on YouTube and wondered why she was on the internet. Then they did a Hollywood makeup on her and she miraculously became an instant beauty queen. That is according to our Hollywood standards. And of course those standards are always changing as are the products being sold to help us keep up to date. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. And out of the heart come the issues of life.
And I got to thinking how many of our lifetime decisions have been made basically upon the superficial and external and not on what really counts. And how much our culture has changed in a few hundred years. Men use to look for women who liked to stay at home. Liked to cook and be a help in the family. Women that would be the example of a good mother in raising children. And the Women would be looking for an honest, hard working, gentle and loving men for a husband that would be the example of a good father. The search was about what was inside and not so much as to the outside. It was what was the soul like and not the house that the soul lives in.
Of course several hundred years ago folks were mostly closer to their Bibles than our culture is today. We have been in a retraining program by Hollywood and those who want to make money off of appealing to our baser instincts which the Bible calls: The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Or the rebellion and pride that we inherited from Adam. In fact most folks out there today have been trained not to believe there was ever an Adam or a Jesus that was resurrected and became God/Man in the Image of God. In fact most believe that we eat, drink, be merry and tomorrow we die and so what. When they tell me this, I usually respond with. “Well if that is true, it will make no difference to me at all, still had a good life. However if I am right, you will be in deep du du… So you better do your own research on the subject as it is of eternal importance. The Bible teaches, “It is appointed unto man, once to die, and after this the judgment.” So none of this will be important unless you have some degree of faith that the Bible is still a good book to go to for what God teaches about how to live and how ro be with HIM for eternity.
Vanity is used 29 times in the Amplified Bible Translation. Ecc. 1: “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].” What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)? …” Phil.3:18-20, “ For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], 19 whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. 20 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 2 Pet.2:18: “For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.” So here is what David, Paul and Peter feel about Vanity. So what really is Vanity?
What does the Bible mean by vanity?
Wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancement, and riches are all meaningless. The King James Version translation uses the word “vanity” here, meaning something that people do simply out of pride but that ultimately is inconsequential. … Wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancement, and riches are all meaningless.
VANITY FAIR: A place where everyone is striving for that which is not worth having.
So what does the Bible teach about MODESTY: “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and discreetly in proper clothing, not with [elaborately] braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 1 Tim. 2:9.” “…when they see your modest and respectful behavior [together with your devotion and appreciation—love your husband, encourage him, and enjoy him as a blessing from God].” Humility also falls into the same file: The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence]; And before honor comes humility, Prov.15:33 “The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Is riches, honor, and life, Prov.22:4″“…But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but was striking his chest [in humility and repentance], saying, ‘God, be merciful and gracious to me, the [especially wicked] sinner [that I am]!’ Luke 18:13.: “ “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all, Luke 18:17 spoken by Jesus.” “… with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love, Eph.4:2.” “…Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves, Phil.2:3.” “Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], Phil.2:5.” “Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his nonspiritual mind, Col.2:18.” “These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God]. Col. 2:23.” “So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; Col 3:12.” “Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble, 1 Pet.5:5.
So if you are into the Bible and really want to know what God thinks about these things this could give you a beginning study to expand and find out for yourself as your eternity really is at risk until you ore an overcomer at graduation (death).. When you read the above, you will feel a clear bell tone of truth in your heart of hearts? I know that you will…. So obey and follow God’s Truth and not the World’s fiction and all will be well with your soul.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful Grace and Mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-aloha.org
As you fool around with the Internet and YouTube, you come across lots of interesting things. While surfing the other day, I came across this rather bland faced Chinese girl on YouTube and wondered why she was on the internet. Then they did a Hollywood makeup on her and she miraculously became an instant beauty queen. That is according to our Hollywood standards. And of course those standards are always changing as are the products being sold to help us keep up to date. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. And out of the heart come the issues of life.
And I got to thinking how many of our lifetime decisions have been made basically upon the superficial and external and not on what really counts. And how much our culture has changed in a few hundred years. Men use to look for women who liked to stay at home. Liked to cook and be a help in the family. Women that would be the example of a good mother in raising children. And the Women would be looking for an honest, hard working, gentle and loving men for a husband that would be the example of a good father. The search was about what was inside and not so much as to the outside. It was what was the soul like and not the house that the soul lives in.
Of course several hundred years ago folks were mostly closer to their Bibles than our culture is today. We have been in a retraining program by Hollywood and those who want to make money off of appealing to our baser instincts which the Bible calls: The lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Or the rebellion and pride that we inherited from Adam. In fact most folks out there today have been trained not to believe there was ever an Adam or a Jesus that was resurrected and became God/Man in the Image of God. In fact most believe that we eat, drink, be merry and tomorrow we die and so what. When they tell me this, I usually respond with. “Well if that is true, it will make no difference to me at all, still had a good life. However if I am right, you will be in deep du du… So you better do your own research on the subject as it is of eternal importance. The Bible teaches, “It is appointed unto man, once to die, and after this the judgment.” So none of this will be important unless you have some degree of faith that the Bible is still a good book to go to for what God teaches about how to live and how ro be with HIM for eternity.
Vanity is used 29 times in the Amplified Bible Translation. Ecc. 1: “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher. “Vanity of vanities! All [that is done without God’s guidance] is vanity [futile, meaningless—a wisp of smoke, a vapor that vanishes, merely chasing the wind].” What advantage does man have from all his work Which he does under the sun (while earthbound)? …” Phil.3:18-20, “ For there are many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, who live as enemies of the cross of Christ [rejecting and opposing His way of salvation], 19 whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things. 20 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 2 Pet.2:18: “For uttering arrogant words of vanity [pompous words disguised to sound scholarly or profound, but meaning nothing and containing no spiritual truth], they beguile and lure using lustful desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error.” So here is what David, Paul and Peter feel about Vanity. So what really is Vanity?
What does the Bible mean by vanity?
Wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancement, and riches are all meaningless. The King James Version translation uses the word “vanity” here, meaning something that people do simply out of pride but that ultimately is inconsequential. … Wisdom, pleasure, toil, advancement, and riches are all meaningless.
VANITY FAIR: A place where everyone is striving for that which is not worth having.
So what does the Bible teach about MODESTY: “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and discreetly in proper clothing, not with [elaborately] braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 1 Tim. 2:9.” “…when they see your modest and respectful behavior [together with your devotion and appreciation—love your husband, encourage him, and enjoy him as a blessing from God].” Humility also falls into the same file: The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the instruction for wisdom [its starting point and its essence]; And before honor comes humility, Prov.15:33 “The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Is riches, honor, and life, Prov.22:4″“…But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even raise his eyes toward heaven, but was striking his chest [in humility and repentance], saying, ‘God, be merciful and gracious to me, the [especially wicked] sinner [that I am]!’ Luke 18:13.: “ “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God [with faith and humility] like a child will not enter it at all, Luke 18:17 spoken by Jesus.” “… with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love, Eph.4:2.” “…Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves, Phil.2:3.” “Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility], Phil.2:5.” “Let no one defraud you of your prize [your freedom in Christ and your salvation] by insisting on mock humility and the worship of angels, going into detail about visions [he claims] he has seen [to justify his authority], puffed up [in conceit] by his nonspiritual mind, Col.2:18.” “These practices indeed have the appearance [that popularly passes as that] of wisdom in self-made religion and mock humility and severe treatment of the body (asceticism), but are of no value against sinful indulgence [because they do not honor God]. Col. 2:23.” “So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; Col 3:12.” “Likewise, you younger men [of lesser rank and experience], be subject to your elders [seek their counsel]; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another [tie on the servant’s apron], for God is opposed to the proud [the disdainful, the presumptuous, and He defeats them], but He gives grace to the humble, 1 Pet.5:5.
So if you are into the Bible and really want to know what God thinks about these things this could give you a beginning study to expand and find out for yourself as your eternity really is at risk until you ore an overcomer at graduation (death).. When you read the above, you will feel a clear bell tone of truth in your heart of hearts? I know that you will…. So obey and follow God’s Truth and not the World’s fiction and all will be well with your soul.
Yours, in HIS great love and wonderful Grace and Mercy, Ken<>< www.Trinity-aloha.org
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