Sunday, April 5, 2015

Beauty Only Skin Deep?




Symbol: Visually appealing food

Lesson: What looks good may not always be good. We may be attracted to a person because of their physical beauty. However, over time we may discover that their personality leaves a very “bad taste in our mouth.”

Illustration: Have you ever seen a table set with plates of exquisite-looking foods that look scrumptious? You try a small sampling of the offerings and like most of it, but then you find something that is so bad, you spit it out. I saw a movie once where, due to the confusion and busy work in the kitchen, the caterer accidentally took a can of cat food and put it on a plate, serving it as pate. The resulting comic scene was hilarious.

The same goes with people we meet. Don’t assume that good looks equates to good character. Becoming too quickly involved with such people can be emotionally disastrous. Getting married to such a person can result in a life of regrets.

In the case of foods you’ve never had, the safe thing is not to be the first to taste it. Watch and see if others like it. In the case of relationships, consider first what you know of the person. If nothing, take time to observe how they treat others. Are they sincere, kind, generous, humble, and selfless? At work, are they the “office gossip” or are they hard-working and “keep their nose clean,” (out of other people’s business)? If you are a servant of God, does the person you are interested in also display spiritual qualities?

Notes: The essence of this illustration was actually thought up by a teen named Marcus. His clear and simple illustrations are always a pleasure to hear and he always makes his point when he gives them. His appreciation for meditating on Bible lessons and principles is impressive.

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