Very Precious To God

1 Peter 3:4

"......the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit which is very precious in God's sight."

If something is very precious to God, it is something we should take careful notice of and seek to cultivate in our lives.

Matthew Henry wrote, " A true Christians chief care lies in the right ordering and commanding of his own spirit.....a composed, calm, quiet spirit renders a person beautiful and lovely."

This is not about personality.

The Lord created a beautiful array of personalities. 

Some folks are outgoing and talkative, some are naturally shy or quiet.

Quietness of spirit is not about how many words we speak every day or the volume of the words.

Some people have a tendency to be heard when they speak. They are leaders...

movers and shakers so to speak. They get things done, and they don't stop until the job is finished.

Other folks are more comfortable working quietly and behind the scenes. It would be difficult for them to be forceful and assertive. They prefer to step lightly and not gather much attention.

Personality is a gift from the Lord Who gives each person the personality and ability to live the life He has planned for them.

Quietness and gentleness of spirit is not so much about words, it's about humility, kindness, and the willingness to yield to others for the sake of peace.

I'm not saying we yield to unrighteousness and evil in order to keep peace, rather, in our every day lives we seek to live at peace with people as much as possible without betraying Truth.

Whining, fussy, bossy, argumentative, foul mouth, critical and caustic people have noisy spirits regardless of their personalities.

I've known people with "quiet" personalities who cause great damage with their iron will

And I've known louder people who are gentle in their dealings with people.

It's a matter of humility and a heart that truly seeks the best for other people.

God commends gentle, humble, quiet people. 

He says they are very precious in His sight.

Precious means two things....rare and valuable.

Pride is the opposite of gentleness and quietness.

It seeks attention. Seeks its own way.

Pride demands......loud  and clear...

like an immature child who cries loudly for what it wants.

Immature people are never content or quiet.

As people mature, they learn how to calm and quiet their soul as Psalm 131: 2 says, "I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child."

Just as a small child learns to let go of his desires and wait patiently, we will have many opportunities to keep learning lessons of selflessness and patience throughout life.

We bring a lot of pain to ourselves when we charge at life like a bull in a china closet.

As years pass by and we reap troubles, quiet and thoughtful living for the Lord begins to look more and more appealing.

We no longer over react when things don't go our way.

We step back from conflict, holding our opinion and help until a person is ready to find it useful.

The righteousness of Jesus is produced in quiet and peaceful lives......those people who work hard, live responsibly and deal humbly with others.

The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18

We live in an explosive world today.

As believers we need to be a quiet refuge amid the swirling chaos. 

I'm not saying we don't take a stand...

I'm just saying we remember Whom we serve and that we are not fighting flesh and blood. Ephesians 6:12

We are in the world as ambassadors to the One Who said He is "gentle and lowly of heart...and in Him we can find rest for our soul."