Series: AM I HAPPY (week 3 of 4) – March 21, 2010

Fun/Funny:

This past Sunday I showed the students a couple pictures of me.  The first one is from when I was 18 – trying to look cool, and the second one was about a year and a half later when I was 19 - I grew out my hair & beard while I studied in Israel for a semester.

 Overview:

Can our appearance bring us happiness?  What if we had the “right” clothes?  What if we could lose some weight or gain some muscle?  What if…..

Notes:

As a child I grew up with people making hurtful comments towards me about being skinny, my teeth, my clothes, and so on.  In a way this led to my ”regular” Sunday routine.  The last thing I’d do before I got in the car to ride to church is make sure my hair was looking gooood!  The first thing I’d do when I got to church was run to the bathroom to make sure my hair was still looking gooood!  I’m sure many of you can relate.

Why do we focus so much attention on our appearance?  Why do we spend so much time thinking about what other people will think about us?  Why do we allow our culture to set the bar on what is acceptable?  What does God’s word have to say about appearance?  Here are three simple thoughts and corresponding verses:

1. Physical training is good…BUT… -  1 Timothy 4: 8 (NLT) says, “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”  We all know the value of physical training.  But what if we spent as much time training for godliness as we do thinking about appearances?
2. God doesn’t see appearances like we do… – 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT)says, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.  The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them.  People judge by outward appearances, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  If God doesn’t judge by appearance, should we?  How do we get past appearance and get to know someone’s heart?
3. God is more concerned about what’s on the inside… – 1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLT) says, “Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.  You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.”  I know is sounds cliche, but God really does care more about our heart.  It’s what is “so precious” to Him.

Final Thought:

What would happen if we spent less time focusing on appearance and transferred that to focusing on God and training in godliness?  What if we turned off facebook for 10 minutes and spent 10 minutes talking to God?  What if we put down that new book we bought for 10 minutes and read the first chapter of Mark?

Up Next: AM I HAPPY - Despite Circumstances (week 4 of 4)