Looking Good

Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? (2 Corinthians 10:7a KJV)

An MSNBC article about tight jeans causing nerve pain through compression quoted one sufferer as saying:

We buy things, we know they’re going to hurt — but they’re going to look good.
We say, oh well, it looks good, so it’s fine.

Think that sort of sounds funny? Don’t. It’s applicable in so many other ways. Reminds me of verses that continuously surfaced in the Bible:

… every man did that which was right in his own eyes. (Judges 17:6b KJV)

Even though it was repeated, many did not learn the full lesson:

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25 KJV)

Why are we so concerned about how we appear to others – and give no thought for how we appear to God?

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matthew 23:27-28 KJV)

Paul wrote what to look for, and which has value:

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV)

James warns against weighing rich appearances as better:

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (James 2:2-3 KJV)

Christ tells us how to discern the better choices:

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24 KJV)

Those that do so will wear crowns – of rejoicing (1 Th 2:19), righteousness (2 Ti 4:8), life (Jam 1:12; Rev 2:10). Only those who feed His flock will wear those crowns of glory (1 Pe 5:4) – how blessed they will be for serving us for our Lord.

That’s what looking good really is.