The national media reported that Olivia Goldsmith, author of the popular book The First Wives Club (which became a film starring Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler), died last week from complications resulting from cosmetic surgery. According to the Associated Press, the 54-year-old novelist suffered a heart attack due to anesthesia she received during an operation to remove loose skin from beneath her chin.

I don’t even have to watch you read this to know that at least a few of you just felt under your chins, wondering, “Do I have loose skin under there?” And several others are thinking about it, but are too self-conscious to check.

Our society has become obsessed with cosmetic surgery. When people are willing to risk death (and general anesthesia is always such a risk) because they have loose skin under their chins, I think “obsessed” is a fair word to use. There’s even a TV program (Extreme Makeover) on which millions of Americans can watch one of their fellow citizens go under the knife in the name of artificial youth and beauty.

The Bible view of what makes one beautiful doesn’t involve surgical modification. Quite the opposite, in fact: “Do not let your adornment be merely outward — arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel — rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Notice that the inspired apostle refers to “incorruptible beauty.” All physical beauty is not only subject to corruption, but unavoidably destined for it. Hair turns gray — or falls out altogether. The skin loses elasticity and begins to wrinkle. Weight redistributes, and often increases. The natural elements — sunlight and gravity — take their toll. All the surgical skill in the world can’t forestall these forever.

Conversely, inward beauty need not suffer the ravages of age. If anything, it deepens and flowers with maturity, the wisdom of experience, and a greater understanding of God’s word gained from years of study and faithful living. Nothing in nature can dim the precious, timeless loveliness of “a gentle and quiet spirit,” one that fears God and keeps His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Those who profess godliness should find their beauty in the adornment of good works (1 Timothy 2:8-10). Paul’s words to Titus prove that this principle is not specific to women only, but for both genders in equal measure: “in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Titus 2:7-8).

The prophet of old applied this to himself: “My soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). The glory of a human being is not in outward augmentation, but in righteousness and the salvation of a loving God.

A wise king named Lemuel once penned an acrostic poem describing the attributes of a virtuous wife (Proverbs 31:10-31). He includes not a word about her physical attractiveness, but writes at length about her industriousness, her gracious charity, and her wisdom. Lemuel concludes by observing, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised” (verse 30).

I feel sorry for those who can only find beauty in themselves through mutilating their bodies with scalpels, sutures, and silicone. And I feel privileged every day that for the past nineteen years (as of tomorrow afternoon), God has blessed me with a wife who understands — and examples — what true, incorruptible beauty is.