My old partner (on the ambulance) and I used to repeat a saying when it was appropriate. “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.” (Proverbs 11.22) This seems to immediately remind a fella of the tastelessness of a thirst trap (or, a trollop, if you prefer). To clarify, being pretty is not a sin. Queen Esther had “beautiful figure” enough to be selected by a king after royal edict to find pretty girls. Faithful Job was blessed with daughters whose good looks surpassed all the women in the land. And Sarah, Abraham’s wife, was a gorgeous gal well beyond her youth (like my Granola). Take if from a king with enough women to know (not to mention the inspiration of the Spirit), “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised”. (Proverbs 31.30)
Peter writes in much the same way, “Do not let your adorning be external- the braiding of hair an the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” (1 Peter 3.3-4) If you read “you shouldn’t try to look pretty” then you missed the point. Peter is reminding us that the person you are on the inside should be of infinitely greater concern than making sure your eye shadow is blended well.
Attend to your internal beauty. Pay attention to your spiritual diet, and don’t gorge junk entertainment. Line your lips with wisdom. Let songs of praise ring in your ears. Don’t stink. (Wow, that came out of nowhere!) “Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” (John 12.3) Did you catch that? “…filled with the fragrance…” While Mary obviously was not trying to gain praise for herself her good deeds could not be hidden. Everyone knew she had done a kind deed. How beautiful. Want to be a Proverbs 31 woman? “An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels…” and the only thing mentioned about her looks in that chapter is that beauty is vain.