This month, I am reading through the book of Proverbs, studying one chapter a day. Each week, I will share a verse that stuck with me. Join me as I study the wisdom that God gave Solomon, and apply it to life today. Click here to get your printable Proverbs Study Calendar.
“Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.” (Proverbs 12:9)
I used to watch a British comedy when I was younger called Keeping Up Appearances. The plot centered on a woman who believed herself higher stationed than she was, and did everything she could to keep up that image—no matter how miserable it made her and those around her.
She was obsessed with pretending to be somebody. Her image was everything.
We see this in real life, too. The designer wallet that doesn’t have a dollar in it. The luxury car in danger of repossession. Expensive trips and clothes bought on credit.
I’m not innocent of this myself. How many times do I tell my children that we have to clean up for company. Part of it is to make our guests feel welcome and comfortable, sure. But it’s also about appearing to have a cleaner, better organized, and more perfect home than I really do.
Why image isn’t everything in life
Despite the picture-perfect influence of social media, life is messy. There are bad days and messy houses. There are empty bank accounts and mac and cheese dinners. Our realities aren’t always going to fit the image we would like to project.
But is that image really worth keeping?
We were created in an image, but not the one that shows off status and wealth. We were created in the image of God. The more we strain and struggle to fit into another image, one that looks attractive to the world but bears little resemblance to our Heavenly Father, the more frustrated, uncomfortable, and depressed we become.
How we look to the world isn’t nearly as important as how we look to God. He doesn’t care what we wear on our bodies—he cares about what we wear on our hearts.
When we strive to live more in the image of God, we live well. Like someone with a servant in Biblical times, we are cared for and content. But when we put our efforts into projecting a worldly and wealthy image, we leave ourselves empty and wanting, like a stomach without a meal.
Image will not bring us peace. What we have in our hearts will. So, let go of appearances and focus on the only image that matters—God’s.
Have a blessed Monday!
Looking for more encouragement and inspiration today? Try these:
Proverbs Study: Living in God’s Wisdom
It’s true, you look at social media and everybody is happy, have the perfect home, the perfect marriage. Everyone is trying to project an image of what they think their life should look like and sometimes that image is far away from their reality. I love that in the midst of our mess we do have the perfect image of Christ. I love this post, is full of truth!
It’s important for us to remember that the only perfection we’ll find in this life is when we look to Him. Thanks for reading! God bless!
Thank you for this reminder. We cannot be too careful about guarding our hearts and not falling into the trap of keeping up appearances. In the end, it’s what God thinks that counts. Blessings to you!
God will always see our true worth. Thanks for reading and God bless!