Favorable in God's sight
Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, but rather what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4 CSB
Within the family, we observe that a husband and his wife practice equality as human beings, but that they define and display their differences in their respective functions and roles. The husband and wife mutually complement each other with their natural abilities, proficiencies, and gifts. They are expected to use their talents for the advancement of God’s kingdom in the family, society, and church. Thus, they observe the divine command to live in obedience to the order God had set for families. This is why God gave husband and wife principles to live by so they can have the family He wants them to have. From the text, Peter continues to counsel the married woman to not be so much concerned about their outward beauty as about their inner charm. Peter makes the comparison between the outward beauty of a woman with her inner grace. And he teaches that the inner grace is much more important than the outward beauty. It does not say that a woman should refrain from adorning herself. Peter did not write about any prohibition against using cosmetics or wearing attractive apparel. He does not intend that wife has messy hair, or wear no ornaments, or dress in shabby clothes. His objection about this outward adornment is the excesses that were common among the wealthy ladies in the church and society of his day. This is also Paul’s observation in his time that he told Timothy to give this advice: “the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel” (1 Timothy 2:9). The contrast is clear. In place of outward adornment Peter stresses the inner self: “what is inside the heart—the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:5). A literal translation of the Greek is “the hidden person of the heart.” The most effective women are those who possess the inner qualities of gentleness and quietness. Because of these qualities, Christian women receive favor in God’s sight. It is not the world’s evaluation of a meek and quiet spirit that counts, but God’s. God highly values these qualities in God-fearing women.
Blessings,
