Watch this video First! It is amusing! Nothing is blatantly wrong with it, but I would recommend parental guidance for those under 14 years old.  Remember, the behaviors in the video are to show how image conscience we tend to be!

How many times have we paused in front of the mirror just to see every flaw that we have? How many times have we anguished in our thoughts; "oh no...another blemish on my face", "I have got to loose those extra pounds", "I need to have money to be accepted", "I need to have that car to show that I am successful", "I need that designer shirt and pants to fit with the "in" crowd". In some way or another I believe we have ALL been there friends . Our looks and style become sort of a competition. Some of us feel that we need to keep up with the latest trends to feel better about ourselves, or to look good to others. We sometimes even criticize others because of the way they look, or act. We tend to adjust our image to match what we think is the benchmark of success. Image to some is much deeper than skin. Sometimes image is all a soul has, this can lead to some sad valleys in the walk of life.

EXAMPLE ONE

You can see it in neighborhoods all over America. John gets a raise and bonus at work and buys a brand new shiny black Ford F - 250 pick up truck. Eddie, John's friend and neighbor sees the visible measure of John's success and is reminded that he isn't as successful in the money world. Eddie; feeling horribly inadequate in the eyes of himself and his friends, makes a rash decision. A red Chevy Silverado 2500HD catches his eyes on the way home from work. He knows that he is in for a struggle if he buys this vehicle, but he feels he must have this to feel and look successful. He strives for the illusion of image adequacy, but is bound by reality.

EXAMPLE TWO

A young lady in Anytown, USA. Kate is a delightful young lady. Kind, intelligent, and quick witted once you get to know her. Kate is a likable person. She spends allot of time in front of the mirror. No, her hair is fine. She isn't overweight. It's those awful pimples and black heads. She spends hours trying to hide them by covering them with make up, but it's no use...they still show...bad! She feels as if she can never have friends with those awful zits. She doesn't speak as much as the others; therefore, she doesn't get noticed for who she actually is. She feels the stares as she walks with her head hung low.

Those stories reflect the tendencies of humanity to dwell too much on image. Those situations are fictitous examples, but they are similar to what I have witnessed in the past years.

Lets be honest here. In some way we have all been a victim or a flaunter of image; it's a part of our human nature!

What can we do?

First and foremost we need to know that God could care less if we drive a shiny car, have facial flaws, or 100,000 dollars in checking. He is our father! He loves us dearly, enough to have his child become human, "skin and bones". For us he experienced: pain, sorrow, horror, agony, temptation, hate, disbelief, abandonment, and death. While experiencing all of this he gave glory to father God!

Our excess value of image has everything to do with us, and nothing to do with serving our savior. It is pride, no other word for it.

Some steps to recovery...

Acknowledge that the image stigma effects us all. Ask the Holy Spirit that dwells within to make us notice immediately when we are wrongfully noticing our image or others image. We need to know that how we look to others doesn't amount to a hill of beans compared to the treasure we have waiting for us in heaven! Love ourselves and others for soul value, not face value. We all should remember that we are the children of a King who have the fathers love within. You will find this a whole lot easier as you grow in tenure as a Christ follower. Will we be perfect from now on? No, I didn't say that...we DEPEND on our father continually for guidance. All we need to do is confess the mistakes, turn from them, and live!

Ecclesiastes 2:11 (New International Version)

11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (New International Version)

10 Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless.

Ecclesiastes 11:10 (New International Version)

10 So then, banish anxiety from your heart
and cast off the troubles of your body,
for youth and vigor are meaningless.

Psalm 49:11-20

11 Their tombs will remain their houses forever,
their dwellings for endless generations,
though they had named lands after themselves.

12 But man, despite his riches, does not endure;
he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,
and of their followers, who approve their sayings.
Selah

14 Like sheep they are destined for the grave,
and death will feed on them.
The upright will rule over them in the morning;
their forms will decay in the grave,
far from their princely mansions.

15 But God will redeem my life from the grave;
he will surely take me to himself.
Selah

16 Do not be overawed when a man grows rich,
when the splendor of his house increases;

17 for he will take nothing with him when he dies,
his splendor will not descend with him.

18 Though while he lived he counted himself blessed
and men praise you when you prosper-

19 he will join the generation of his fathers,
who will never see the light of life .

20 A man who has riches without understanding
is like the beasts that perish.