Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. -1 Timothy 6:17-19
Dear (rich) beautiful Godly woman,
You may not look at your bank account and think you are rich.
I know I didn’t. I didn’t think I was selfish, either.
I spent a lot of time and money doing things that didn’t matter.
I thought that if I looked down at my hands and they had perfect acrylic tips, that I would feel a different way. I’d feel put together and not messy. So I’d spend $40 a month, sometimes twice a month on nails. While I was at it, I’d go ahead and get the pedicure, no harm no foul. $20 or so more a month.
I thought that if I had highlights and my hair was exactly how I wanted it to be (platinum blonde, red, brown, dark blonde, and all of the above at once sometimes), that, again, I’d have that strut to my step. “I don’t do it for others,” I’d say, “this is for me.” But looking back I don’t think that was true. I’d easily spend over $100 getting my hair done. That was probably 3 times a year… which doesn’t seem that bad, because come on, it’s just 3 times a year!
I’d look at my arms and think “gosh I need to tan!” and I’d go ahead and spend another $20 a month on a tanning membership. Regardless of all the risks and the smelly lotion, I wanted the glow.
I’d be driving home from work and visualize my fridge and freezer contents… there’s chicken in the freezer, turkey in the freezer, there’s pasta and rice in the pantry, various cans of veggies, bread, milk, sandwich meat… but I’d set my blinker and pull into Sonic. I’d pull into Schlotzky’s. I’d go into Subway. Why? Why did I just spend $8 on food when I have it at home? Oh, and I’d do this at least once a week. That’s $32 a month, minimum.
I’m telling you all this because I thought I wasn’t rich.
Poor me, spending AT LEAST $1600 a year, at least $140 a month on unnecessary.
I had the luxury of spending over $100 a month on whatever the heck I want… there are people around the world that don’t even have $100 a month. Not because they are lazy and don’t want to get a job, either. The point here is, I was rich. And I was selfish with it.
There’s nothing in the Bible that says… wait wait. Yes there is.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. – Phil 2:3
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. – 1 Peter 3:3-4
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. – James 1:22
A lot of you ladies are going to get defensive, but I want you to really look at your life. Not from a “holier than thou” point of view, because I was where you are if this is where you are. I want to tell you about where I am now. Bear with me, beautiful girl.
I want to tell you about abundant life. I went back to my natural color. My nails are plain-jane now. My skin is more pale than before. I have a lot more dishes to do at home, and much tastier food than Sonic for dinner. That money now goes back to the Lord. Yes, back to the Lord. Because all the provision I have is from the Lord. It’s hard to see His name on the check, but it’s there. He’s the one who created me, and has sustained me, provided me with a job, provided me with health and strength to do my job, and my paycheck is not my money. Everything is the Lord’s. Even my body isn’t mine.
That being said, I feel prettier now! I feel my inner beauty.
I was babysitting last night, and my hair was “gone crazy” and I was wearing no makeup. Jaysen (5 years old) says to me: “you look really good!” haha!
Really? Do I really? Because I’d much rather hear it from a 5 year-old.
I’m not sure what he saw in me, but I hope it was my inner beauty.
It doesn’t matter that the highlights are gone. Turns out my natural color brings out my eyes (thanks Lord!) and that my nails are pretty strong as they are (thanks Lord!) and if I want to have fun I throw a fresh coat of nail polish from the arsenal of nail polish (every girl has one, the stuff never runs out) and it’s free. My skin tone is fine as it is (thanks Lord!) because that’s what I will tell my daughters in the future when they ask me if they’re beautiful. I have to believe it too.
What would you tell your daughter?
“It’s not a big deal, it’s just $20” was the lie I told myself, but it is not just $20, is it?
I also had to come to terms that I was lazy. Yep. LAZY! The couch had (still has) a magnetic pull on me. I ask the Lord everyday to give me strength to fight this lazy magnetism. It takes 20 minutes to make rice. Microwaving veggies takes minutes. Pasta… well that’s boiling water, how hard is that? With thawed meat, you can grill it on a George Foreman in minutes. Or put it in a skillet and it’s done before the rice. It’s really not that hard to make food. The 16 year-old at Sonic cannot possibly be a better cook than you.
I don’t want or expect everybody to stop going to the salon or eating out or tanning. This isn’t a strict tirade on all superfluous things. But I want you to look at your lifestyle and ask the Lord if He is pleased.
One day you will stand before His judgment seat and be held accountable for all your actions.
I want Him to tell you He’s pleased with you, and how you served others, and how you did all you could out of love for Jesus, your brothers, and your sisters. I beg you to please do all you can, out of love for Jesus, your brothers, and your sisters.
I hope you have abundant life, and freedom.
I pray the same thing that happened to me happens to every Godly woman out there. I broke down crying, because all that money over the years could have gone to the Lord and His work.
Sister, I am going to be a full-time missionary, doing the Lord’s work 24/7 for 11 months. I need support. I need strong women to support me. I have $12,000 left to raise. Will you join me in ministry? Will you pray about it? I need your prayers and I need your financial support, rich, beautiful daughter of the King. Whatever you can spare!
God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10
Lord Jesus, show my sisters how beautiful they are. Break their hearts for what breaks Yours. Let them be thankful for their inner beauty and strength. Let them be aware of the unnecessary, and passionate to further Your Kingdom. Raise up a generation of women who do all they can out of love for You, Jesus. In Your holy name I ask, amen.
Love,
Helena
