Lifting People Up

"Calling someone ugly doesn't make you beautiful. You know what does? Telling someone they're beautiful. Lifting people up. That's what true beauty is. It's so sad that as a culture we've started to do the opposite. No matter what you look like on the outside, your true beauty is a reflection of who you are on the inside. Cuz that's all that counts."

I wrote this after this girl called my sister ugly on facebook. I'm so tired of people getting insecure about something and making people insecure about themselves. People think that if they don't feel beautiful, then they should make others feel just as bad as they do. What good comes out of that? Pride. That's pretty much it. If you can make a person feel bad about themself, the only good thing for you (which is still a bad thing) is pride. Because face it, pride feels good. But its temporary, and the Bible says it's wrong.

Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

2 Chronicles 26:16
His pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God.

Psalm 10:4In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

Proverbs 16:5
The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

God hates pride. He HATES it. Instead of making others feel bad about themselves, we should make them feel good about themselves! That's where true beauty comes from. No matter what you look like on the outside, if you're mean to people, they won't want to be around you. But if you make people feel good about themselves, and you're a kind person, people will be drawn to that. They'll want to be around you, and not only that, they'll want to be like you too!
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Corinthians 14:26
...Let all things be done for building up.

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Jesus wouldn't want to make people insecure, and it breaks His heart when He sees His children doing that. But it brings a smile to His face when we do what He did, which is loving on people, and bringing to their attention how beautifully made they are. We are all beautiful, because we were made in the beautiful image of God.

Psalm 139:14
I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.