The fashions of this world have never been that important to me. I wear very little make up. I don’t have my nails or toenails done. I don’t wear nail polish at all. I cut my own hair. I color it once a month. I wear clothes that are comfortable and modest. I’ve never cared about the fashion of the day. My house is uncluttered and comfortable. Most of our furniture is hand-me-downs from my parents or from Craigslist. Most of my countertops and tables have nothing on them. I don’t wear any jewelry except for my wedding ring. I am drawn to simplicity, and this is what I like.

One of my best friends is the complete opposite in these areas. She has her hair done, cut and colored, and her toenails done. Her fingernails are long and always perfectly manicured. She wears quite a bit more make up than me, but not over done. She’s always dressed fashionably. She wears beautiful jewelry on her fingers, her wrists, and around her neck. Her house is perfectly decorated in almost every corner. And I have to tell you, she’s probably the most godly woman I know.

She deeply loves her husband of many years. She tells people about Jesus almost everywhere she goes. If young women have marriage problems or are having trouble raising their kids, they love being mentored by her. She gives gifts to almost everyone. When she has us over for meals, she makes us feel pampered. She is filled with the joy of the Lord, and is salt and light wherever she goes.

Why am I sharing this? Because all of these things that I mentioned concerning our lives, in the way that we live and care for ourselves, and in what we wear, have nothing to do with godliness. Godliness is how much we love and obey God, how much we love others, and how well we serve them. My best friend does all of these extremely well. Her price is well above rubies.

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