The Torah, in describing the Sanctuary and its vessels, requires building the Ark of the Covenant from shittim wood and plating it with gold both inside and out. The Talmud notes the symbolic significance of the interior and exterior gold plating: “Any Torah scholar whose inside is not like his outside [ie whose outward expression of righteousness is insincere] is not to be considered a Torah scholar” (Yoma 72b). 

The Ark, which contained the original Torah scroll, needed to be constructed in such a way that its interior matched its exterior. Similarly, Torah scholars must be the same inside and out. Rather than just appear golden, meaning scholarly and pious, they must also be golden on the inside. Their impressive image must accurately reflect the kind of people they truly are.

Developing this point a bit further, there seems to be no reason at first glance for the Torah to require plating the interior of the Ark with gold. After all, nobody sees the inside of the Ark. Only the exterior is visible and we would therefore expect the Torah to demand only that the exterior be plated with gold to bring glory to this sacred article. 

However, the fact that the Torah requires gold even on the interior proves that the external appearance is not the only important factor. The Ark must be golden even in places which are not exposed to the human eye. 

This, perhaps, is the point of comparison noted by the Talmud between the Ark and people. Too often, our efforts at self-growth are focused on our image, on the way we appear to others, on ensuring we act in a way that will earn us the admiration, approval and respect of the people around us. 

Our sages though, remind us that this is not what self-growth is about. Certainly, just as the Ark was golden on the outside, we must work to maintain an appropriate public image. But our efforts must also include tending to our equally important interior, to refining those aspects of our characters which are hidden from the public eye.