Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (Full Version)

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crissy12345 -> Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 3:37:19 PM)

If someone spends extra time picking out clothes and trying to look better because they really wish that they could make themselves look beautiful but don't actually think that they are, is that vain?
I think that being vain means that a person thinks that they are more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with their looks, which is not the same thing.
What do you think?



WesP -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 3:46:46 PM)

I always thought of vanity as any preoccupation with physical attributes. Dissatisfaction with present physical characteristics or presentation that leads to an unhealthy focus on "improvement" fits the bill pretty well. There is nothing wrong with trying to look your best, but, when it reaches a point where one is sacrificing other things (too much time, money for necessities, etc.) to achieve it, then it is sinful.



McFatty -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 4:15:08 PM)

The Bible talks about it being right to make yourself look decent when going out in public. It's not right to try and make yourself stand out in lavish ways, but not taking the time to take care of your appearance and hygiene also makes you stand out.



drmark -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 4:19:50 PM)

quote:

I think that being vain means that a person thinks that they are more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with their looks, which is not the same thing.
What do you think?
I think that being vain means that a person thinks they need to be more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with how they wish to look.



Liveloved -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 7:02:25 PM)

I've always enjoyed what J. Vernon McGee said in this regard. "If a barn needs painting, paint it!" Amen.



KuKu -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 7:13:34 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: crissy12345

If someone spends extra time picking out clothes and trying to look better because they really wish that they could make themselves look beautiful but don't actually think that they are, is that vain?
I think that being vain means that a person thinks that they are more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with their looks, which is not the same thing.
What do you think?


Vanity starts at the heart. It is all about how one looks. A person who spends 2 hours getting ready because they want others think that they are beautiful is just as bad as the person who takes 5 minutes and knows they are beautiful. It's all about what OTHERS think of their OUTWARD appearance.

The person who takes 2 hours getting ready after being horribly disfigured in a fire, simply trying to make themselves presentable and avoid stares, and the person who takes 5 minutes, knows they look good, and DON'T care what people think, are also in the same boat, one that cannot be classified as vanity.

It all starts with the motive, which again, comes from the heart.



McFatty -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 7:58:20 PM)

KuKu,

I don't understand how someone taking five minutes to get ready and knowing they are beautiful is bad...

If it's a fact, it's a fact, right?



evry1needsgod -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/15/2008 10:47:07 PM)

quote:

The Bible talks about it being right to make yourself look decent when going out in public. It's not right to try and make yourself stand out in lavish ways, but not taking the time to take care of your appearance and hygiene also makes you stand out.


quote:

I think that being vain means that a person thinks they need to be more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with how they wish to look.


McFatty and drmark nailed it on the head. We do need to present ourselves in a decent manner. The Bible does not condone looking despicable and smelling like trash. Actually, the Bible tells us we are temples, and we ought to keep up the bodies that God has given us. God asks us to be modest, but what needs to be defined is modesty. Immodesty, as used by most, means lack of clothes. But actually, it is not that simple. It can mean just the opposite - excess of clothing. The Bible commands us not to be immodest, which includes "make yourself stand out in lavish ways" as McFatty said.

So yes, spend some time in the morning to make yourself presentable, and on those special days, spend a few extra minutes making yourself "attractive" for your date. However, it's vain when it becomes obsessive.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/16/2008 8:27:57 AM)

It could be vanity. It could also be a poor self-esteem, or insecurities about looks. It could be that the person is just really slow about putting on make-up and struggles with indecision about what to wear, or has impossible hair.



KuKu -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/16/2008 4:22:37 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: McFatty

KuKu,

I don't understand how someone taking five minutes to get ready and knowing they are beautiful is bad...

If it's a fact, it's a fact, right?


I am sorry, I should have put "know" in quotations- as in I am so beautiful I don't need to do anything, because I am already perfect... ego issue (heart) here...



KuKu -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/16/2008 4:29:20 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

It could be vanity. It could also be a poor self-esteem, or insecurities about looks. It could be that the person is just really slow about putting on make-up and struggles with indecision about what to wear, or has impossible hair.


Consecrated, isn't poor self esteem usually rooted in vanity (people think so little of me, I am less than other people, other people think______)?

I agree on insecurity of looks (a scar for example), I've been known to change 4 times and then wear the original outfit, and know the impossible hair only too well LOL- some days mine's so frizzy I have to turn sideways to get through the door[8D]



McFatty -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/16/2008 4:33:56 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: KuKu

quote:

ORIGINAL: McFatty

KuKu,

I don't understand how someone taking five minutes to get ready and knowing they are beautiful is bad...

If it's a fact, it's a fact, right?


I am sorry, I should have put "know" in quotations- as in I am so beautiful I don't need to do anything, because I am already perfect... ego issue (heart) here...


Gotcha! Yeah, that's a bit silly.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/17/2008 8:00:49 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: KuKu

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

It could be vanity. It could also be a poor self-esteem, or insecurities about looks. It could be that the person is just really slow about putting on make-up and struggles with indecision about what to wear, or has impossible hair.


Consecrated, isn't poor self esteem usually rooted in vanity (people think so little of me, I am less than other people, other people think______)?

I agree on insecurity of looks (a scar for example), I've been known to change 4 times and then wear the original outfit, and know the impossible hair only too well LOL- some days mine's so frizzy I have to turn sideways to get through the door[8D]


Hmm, maybe. When I think of vanity I think of people like the prince in "Enchanted". He was so focused on his good looks--checking out his reflection, etc.--that he was oblivious to what was going on behind him. He liked himself plenty ("What's not to like?") and he thought he was really hot stuff.

When I think of someone who has poor self esteem, I think of someone who takes a long time getting ready because they are embarrased to show their "real" face in public, even if it's just to go out and get the mail. It's not the same kind of vanity as the prince I mentioned, but it is self-centered and can inconvenience other people. I remember being at camp as a teen, and these girls that would hog the mirrors for a couple of hours curling their hair in the mornings. I never got to do more than just brush mine out, because they woudn't let anyone else use the mirror. I don't know if they were being vain, or if they really felt they couldn't leave the room unless they looked perfect.



Katie-Scarlet -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 5:04:18 AM)

quote:

Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning?


No it is not vain to spend time getting ready (some of us need more work, I know I do especially if I'm having a bad hair day!) The thing to pay attention to is the reason why your fixing yourself up. A person who just natrually wakes up looking great can spend two minutes in the mirror getting ready and still be vain where someone who spends thirty minutes could not be vain. We as fallen humans always look at the outer of what a person does instead of looking at the inner. We make assumptions based on what we see and hear and interpret it based on our personal beliefs and way of thinking. God looks at the heart of a person. The intent.

Vain: conceited: characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance, overly proud of oneself, especially when concerning appearance; having very little substance.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 8:03:18 AM)

I think someone could be vain even if they didn't spend any time at all fixing themselves up in the morning. They might think they are so good-looking, they don't need to spend time improving upon perfection. [:D]



WesP -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 8:21:49 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Consecrated2God

I think someone could be vain even if they didn't spend any time at all fixing themselves up in the morning. They might think they are so good-looking, they don't need to spend time improving upon perfection. [:D]


Yep. Some of us don't need help! [sm=Llol.gif]



Consecrated2God -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 11:16:55 AM)

Lol! [:D]



cow451 -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 1:53:40 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: crissy12345

If someone spends extra time picking out clothes and trying to look better because they really wish that they could make themselves look beautiful but don't actually think that they are, is that vain?
I think that being vain means that a person thinks that they are more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with their looks, which is not the same thing.
What do you think?

It is vanity only if it makes us late for the movie.[8D]



Qtman -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 2:04:21 PM)

Is it vainity. Nope. For some of us it is a necessity. Most old barns need painting some need it worse than others.[:D]



ConstantReader -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/18/2008 6:00:36 PM)

No, unless your name is John Edwards. [8D]



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/21/2008 1:23:44 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: drmark
I think that being vain means that a person thinks they need to be more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with how they wish to look.

Then I am definitely vain. Most definitely.

After my last driver's license photo, I have been hit hard with vanity. I don't think I look like that at all -- like a dying Mommy Dearest.

But this morning, I dyed my hair and chose a far darker color than my normal medium brown. While I used to go out without any makeup 98% of the time, now, i will have to change that, because of the color. Oh, brother. My
quote:

barn needs painting
now, for sure!



saraimay75 -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/21/2008 3:32:26 AM)

quote:

After my last driver's license photo, I have been hit hard with vanity. I don't think I look like that at all -- like a dying Mommy Dearest.


Everybody takes bad Driver License/State ID/School ID....There just BAD.[:'(][sm=icon_smile_evil.gif][sm=shakinghead.gif]



Consecrated2God -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/21/2008 7:43:00 AM)

My last one was pretty bad, but my one before that was really nice. They wouldn't let me keep it. <pout>



fiat_lux -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/21/2008 7:45:32 AM)

quote:

If someone spends extra time picking out clothes and trying to look better because they really wish that they could make themselves look beautiful but don't actually think that they are, is that vain?
I think that being vain means that a person thinks that they are more physically attractive than they really are and they are in love with their looks, which is not the same thing.
What do you think?

I think the first thing you mention is insecurity (I don't mean that word harshly - just not sure what word to use), not vanity. Vanity implies pride. What you describe isn't pride, it's more like fear or anxiety.

Paul's analogy of our bodies to to the temple was in a completely different context - he was making a point about prostitution, i.e. about defiling temples - but I don't think there's a single verse in the Bible that tells us to be freely unconcerned about our image. I'd say if you feel you need some time to look the way you want to look, and that time isn't excessive, then take it. I suppose it would be easy to criticize people for taking time getting ready in the morning, but there's an infinite number of other things I'd need to stop wasting time with before I started criticizing anyone else.



Covaan_Meshuga -> RE: Is it vain for someone to spend a lot of time getting ready in the morning? (7/21/2008 11:35:52 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: saraimay75
Everybody takes bad Driver License/State ID/School ID....There just BAD.[:'(][sm=icon_smile_evil.gif][sm=shakinghead.gif]

Yeah, but this one was bad beyond BAAAAAAD! Worse than any I have yet to see. And, in my opinion, it looked like someone else!



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