We live near a small historical museum with a working farm and costumed volunteers who act as citizens from the late 1800s. Visitors get to experience life in that era by walking through gardens, houses, and an old school house. Besides typical farm animals such as sheep, pigs, cows, and chickens, this museum includes wild peacocks! They walk about the grounds freely, occasionally emitting their eerie, cat-like calls.
Some of the most unique birds in the world, male peacocks can’t help but draw attention to themselves. Their “peacock blue” bodies and beautiful, iridescent feathers are magnificent to behold. Although eye-catching, peacocks also carry a negative connotation. Some refer to a group of these birds as an “ostentation.” And from their strutting about we get the phrase ‘proud as a peacock.’ Their appearance communicates both the positive and the negative.
With enough time, effort, and money, we, too, can look good on the outside. Whether through gym memberships and exercise, diets, hair dye, Botox, or plastic surgery–outer improvement is readily attainable. What self-effort cannot achieve and money cannot buy, however, is inward attractiveness. I Samuel 16:7 reveals that, God does not see as man sees, since man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. He does not focus on physical blemishes, wrinkles, flabby abs, or gray hair. God values gentleness and beauty in the hidden person of the heart (1 Peter 3:4). He longs for us to know Him. Believing in Him, abiding in Him, and resting in Him brings peace and joy–a kind of inner beauty the world lacks.
In Matthew 23:25-26 Jesus had sharp words for the religious leaders. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may also become clean.” This speaks of appearing “good” to others while secretly harboring selfish motives. We can do the right things for the wrong reasons: helping someone because we need to be needed, acting generous in public to gain others’ approval, or manipulating someone while making it sound as if it’s for the other’s benefit. Such pretentious goodness carries no weight with God. He sees our motives and prefers that we look to Him for validation and ask Him how to best meet our needs. His ways never involve selfishness or self-indulgence at the expense of others.
That’s one reason He encourages us, Pray without ceasing (I Thessalonians 5:17). When we keep a constant dialog going with God, He will steer us away from wrong motives and into a more selfless lifestyle. Every time I look back and recognize ugly motives, I also remember I’d ignored a little nudge not to go down that road. Had I stopped and paid attention, I’d not be experiencing my current regret. John 3:16 says, For God so loved the world that he gave . . . With pure motives, God gives freely, selflessly, and generously. If we listen and follow His leading, our hearts can look as beautiful as His.
