Boasting In the Bling

Isaiah 2:17 “The pride of man will be humbled and the loftiness of men will be abased; and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.”

Pride can take many forms. Some boast in their strength. Some boast in their knowledge. Some boast in their riches. And still others boast in the bling.

The way a person dresses says something about them. Men and women alike spend thousands of dollars accessorizing their bodies in all sorts of ways. Rings, body piercings, colorful hair colors, and tattoos have become all the rage. Often these accouterments are meant to attract attention and make the wearer stand out in the crowd. What is the motive behind our overuse of bling and is it really harmless?

The prophet Isaiah spoke about the women of Judah and their use of bling. The Lord saw through all the glitter to the hearts of these beauties and what he found was pride. They walked with upheld heads and seductive eyes adorned with dangling jewelry, perfume, nose rings, fine clothes, and even special undergarments (I wonder if Victoria’s Secret was around back then?).

While the outward beauty of these women was not the problem, the attitude of their hearts was. Because of their egotism God promised to punish them. Their beauty would be removed and they would be humbled until they learned that the Lord is the only one who deserves to be exalted.

Most of us enjoy a little bling now and then, but it is important to check our hearts to see if pride in our appearance has crept in. Have we adorned ourselves only for the purpose of gaining attention? Are we thinking more of ourselves than we should?

Always remember that our lives should glorify God in all ways. Don’t boast in the bling, but in the Lord. He is the only one who deserves to be exalted.

Love,
Mama