Proverbs 11:22;“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion”
We all have insecurities. Sometimes we mask those insecurities with different things that we think tell a story about who we want to be. The proverb above is not limited to women; men are called out for this in society a bit more often these days. Just replace youth, fertility, social status, or beauty for women with competence, honor, strength, and courage for men. And of course there is some overlap between the genders. Proverbs 22:11 explained this using a simple comparison.
It could be multiple degrees, a big house, a fancy car, an accomplished partner, perfectly well-behaved children (in public)… the things we are likely to brag about.
Another reading of the proverb says, “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who has no taste.” The ability to discern when it is appropriate to show or talk about certain things is key to good taste.
When we have been blessed with a lot, and we still find ourselves bragging – still covering up because we feel undeserving of having our deep seated needs met – that is the essence of poor taste. Here’s what we could do instead:
- Using our God-given genius to be a blessing to others
- Listening to other people and their life situations
- Learning more
- Seeking feedback on how to improve on our craft or profession
- Demonstrating to others that we are not here to compete. We are not here to one-up our neighbors. Showing that we are the kind of people others can truly confide in for advice, hope, comfort, and sometimes solutions.
Failing to do that when we already have so much is ugly; it makes our ‘beauty’ not count for anything. It’s like… a gold ring in a pig’s nose.
Honestly, I often feel like a mere surface reader of the Bible. So if you think I interpreted this way off, or you have another idea, I’d love to hear it in the comments.
A Choice that is Always in Good Taste
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