Scripture
“He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”
ISAIAH 53:2
“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 SAMUEL 16:7b
Quotes/Color
“Real swag is no swag.”
David Cutcliffe
“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are… While your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
John Wooden
Context
In the passage describing Jesus known as The Suffering Servant, Jesus’ appearance is described as having “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him.” Put another way, my NASB commentary says that Jesus “had nothing of the bearing or trappings of royalty.”
The Hebrew word “beauty” in Isaiah 53:2 (or “No Beauty” in Christ’s case) is also used to describe David in 1 Samuel 16:18, where it is translated “handsome.”
David was a looker. He was handsome and bore the trappings of royalty. Christ? Not so much. Or at least not compared to the attractiveness of His character.
That being said, here is an unpopular question for you…
Do you or the people you admire in faith bear the outward appearance and trappings of royalty?
Does performance outweigh earnestness? Does adornment outweigh content? Is ego more prominent, or is humility? Is the first thing you notice “swag”?
As a caveat, quite frankly, I know of and learn from several pastors who are swagalicious that I trust deeply and respect completely. So I cannot in good conscience completely rule out learning from people who are cooler than me… Or else I would not be able to learn from anyone at all… I have negative swag. But all I am trying to say is this… Here is the important point…
Are you more concerned with curating your heart before God or curating your appearance before others? Which is more noticeable – your character or your wardrobe? If your wardrobe is great, super. Just make sure it pales in comparison to the content of your heart.
As a Christian, a follower of the God who looks not at outward appearance but at the heart, the content of the heart is far more important than your appearance/perception and should accordingly be far more apparent to an outside perspective.
Real swag is not about appearance. Real swag is no swag. Rather, it’s humility and earnestness before God and your heart before Him.
Application
So then… If we should be wary of swag, what then should we clothe ourselves in instead, you ask?
- Clothe Yourself in Humility (1 Peter 5:5) – Instead of your appearance, let your humility be a sight for sore eyes. Be filled with surprising kindness. Make space for others to feel like they can be themselves, feel included and be appreciated. Think of others and think of ways to draw positive attention towards them, not yourself.
- Clothe Yourself in Righteousness (Psalm 132:9) – Psalm 132:9 says this, “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let your godly ones sing for joy.” Further, my NASB commentary puts it this way, “Beyond their normal priestly garb – [priests/ministers] ministry bear[s] the character of righteousness.” Isn’t that good?
Ask yourself, is the brand of Christianity you are projecting first and foremost swagilicious… or righteous?
Look for people and elevate people that are like Christ in your life. People who curate their hearts with more care and rigor than they curate their appearance/perception. Further, aside from others, be wary of yourself as well, and the temptation of placing too much value on appearance and too little value on the condition of your heart.
God cares far more about who you are than what you look like.
Something to Chew On:
- Think about the Christian leaders you admire. Do they disproportionately prioritize their appearance? Or do they instead disproportionately prioritize inspecting the condition of their heart?
- Now think about yourself. Do you disproportionately prioritize your appearance? Or do you instead disproportionately prioritize inspecting the condition of your heart?
- Act as if God is not even able to see your physical appearance… He has no idea what you physically look like. Act as if He can only see your heart. What would he see?
GreatValue Proverb:
Real swag is no swag.