For a moment, think about a pig. Now think of a pig wearing a nose ring of Gold. Even the very image in our mind is pretty unappealing, isn’t it?
The Bible compares in Proverbs 11:22, that a woman without discretion is like a gold ring (jewel) in a pig’s snout. This I dont believe, is a warning just to the female (woman) gender, but to all mankind. As the bride of the Lamb, it includes all of us, who trust and believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Savior of the world. I don’t think, anyone will question me, if I was to state that we can ALL (male and female) be without discretion.

We see nose rings being worn even today in many parts of the world. You can certainly see them on women from the Indian sub-continent. This practice is however an age old practice. Although, today it is primarily worn  prevalent to adorn or accentuate one’s beauty, the origin of the practice and the reasons as to why it was worn in ancient times has far greater significance.  A nose ring was symbolic of being set apart and of commitment.

When Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac, and commanded his servant to look for a daughter-in-law among his own people, interestingly the first thing that the servant does when he finds Rebekah by the well is he puts a  nose ring on her (Genesis 24:47) as a indication of setting her apart for his master’s son, after finding out who she was. To Rebekah, this would mean that she would need to be thenceforth committed to Isaac. Likewise, the prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 16:12, paints the imagery that God put a nose ring on Israel and all of God’s chosen people who trust and believe in Jesus Christ, adorning us, while at the same time, setting us apart for his Son (Jesus Christ). This to us means that we should be committed to Jesus.

Any other way would mean, that we are like a woman without discretion, as a pig wearing a golden nose ring. Not very appealing, is it?

Point(s) to ponder:

  1. Let us remember that we are are set apart for God
  2. Let us remain faithful and committed to God
  3. Let us not be pigs wearing nose rings 🙂

Proverbs 11:22 (Bible in Basic English)
22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.