Jump Start # 897

1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle  and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

These words of the apostle Peter are addressed toward wives. Specifically, he is addressing those wives whose husbands are not believers. Most likely, as the Gospel came into new areas, some would accept it, others would not. In a home, this created some new issues, one was a Christian and the other was not. As pressure mounted against Christianity, this stretched the limit for some in marriages where one was not a Christian. Some unbelievers would leave. Paul discussed that in 1 Corinthians 7.

Peter’s words are given to help Christian women convert their husbands. Those who had been disobedient to the word may be “won”, as Peter used the word, by chaste and respectful behavior of their wives. It wasn’t nagging that convinced these husbands to obey Jesus. It wasn’t threats to kick them out, sleep on the couch, or a constant screaming match that turned them. Those things usually drive a person the other way. If one begins to show interests, after all that, there is suspicion whether it is genuine or just to get the wife to hush up. That’s never good. That’s not true conversion.

Sometimes it is easier to talk to someone we barely know about Jesus than someone who lives under our roof. If a person has had bad experiences in the past, those issues will have to be looked at and dealt with. Some may fear things that they have heard and are afraid to ask questions. Peter’s words go beyond talking and teaching. Peter wants wives to demonstrate their faith. Show him by the way you live.

Our verse illustrates three common things women did back then and they still do it today, to “get ready.” They fix their hair (Peter says: braiding the hair); they put on jewelry (Peter says: gold jewelry); they pick out an outfit (Peter says, putting on dresses). It takes women longer to get ready than it does men. The typical guy needs a tooth brush, razor, shampoo, comb, cologne and one towel and he’s good to go. A guy can be ready in 10 minutes. It doesn’t work that way for women. In fact, even though men may complain and become impatient waiting on their wives getting ready, we really wouldn’t want them to be ready in 10 minutes. It takes time to look good. After 10 minutes a man has done about all he can to look his best. There’s not much more he can do. Women have all kinds of lotions, creams and things I still haven’t figured out after all these years of marriage. Guys can walk out the door with a wrinkled shirt and think nothing of it. Not the ladies. There is a lot of time, effort and thought that goes into a wife getting ready. It’s worth it, though.

Peter is not saying “no” to all of that. He’s not saying don’t do that. Looking good on the outside is important. However, more important, and most impressive to God, is looking good on the inside. This is where the world misses it. Too much attention is placed upon the outside of the package and no thought is given to the inside. Hollywood is the supreme example of this mentality. Two examples that I remember from sermons I have preached. Actress Cindy Crawford once said, “even I do not look like Cindy Crawford in the mornings.” Another famous actress had her picture on the cover of People Magazine. The caption described her as “Perfect.” A reporter discovered that over $1,500 dollars was spent just on touching up the photo—taking out lines, adding color and doctoring the picture to make her more perfect that what she really was.

Peter doesn’t want the emphasis to be on the external. A person, male or female, can wear expensive clothing, and look impressive, while carrying a sorry, selfish attitude that belittles others, is offensive and mocks the God of Heaven and earth. The clothes do not make the man. Our words, attitudes, concerns, compassion, and forgiving nature is more beautiful than anything we can put on. In fact, what I have seen through the years is that many people look better and better on the inside and that inner beauty radiates to the outside. They have a joy that makes them sparkle. They have a hope that shines in their eyes. Their lips speak of compassion. The touch of their hand, a hug, a smile is long remembered. We don’t remember what jewelry they wore, or what color of shoes they had on. But we remember the person that took time for us. We remember the person who really cared for us. We remember the thoughtful words, the encouragement and even the kick in the pants when we needed it. We remember the insides more than the outsides.

This contrast or lack of it is seen every where. You’ll notice it at work today. Some are dressed nice, but talk dirty. Some have spent time on their hair and nails but haven’t spent any time on their soul. It shows. The choice of words, how they talk about others, what is important to them—it all comes out quickly in a conversation.

Peter reminds wives to dress the insides as well as the outside. Look good on the inside. Look righteous and godly on the inside. This goes for all of us, not just wives whose husbands are not Christians. Letting the word of Christ richly dwell within us will do that. Christ living in us will do that. It is a choice. It takes time to look good on the inside. You have to brush away anger and prejudice. You have to clean up your thoughts and attitudes. You must spit shine your heart.

Think about your insides. That’s how your family sees you. Put some effort into looking good on the insides. Could it be that’s why many of us grew up loving our grandparents? They were old, wrinkly, and didn’t wear the latest fashions, and they may have even smelled funny—yet they had that inner beauty about them. They loved us, took time for us, and were sweet on the inside. We overlooked the outside for what we saw on the inside.

The insides is what makes the difference. That’s what Peter wanted wives to see. It is so powerful that some unbelieving husbands would become converted because of what they saw on the insides. We have a song, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me…” Do you know that hymn? It is address looking good on the inside.

For some reason it takes a while to learn this lesson. It’s hard for teenagers to get this. They spend so much on the outside and so little on the inside. The problem is, some never get it. They become 40 years old and they still haven’t learned that lesson. Have you?

Looking good on the inside—that’s what counts. That’s character. That’s heart. That’s what Jesus is interested in.

Roger