Hey, Good Looking!

Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature,

for I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees,

for man looks at the outward appearance,

but the Lord looks at the heart.

1 Samuel 16:7

With failure after failure by King Saul to follow God’s ways and direction, it was time for a new king.  God sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem to consecrate a king from the family of Jesse.  Samuel asked that each son be sent, one at a time, for a job interview.  When Samuel saw Eliab, the firstborn, he knew that this handsome young man was going to be the next king.  God, however, had other ideas.  “Yes, this is a nice looking fellow,” God told Samuel, “but I don’t care how good looking he is; what’s important to Me is what’s happening on the inside.”   

Seven brothers were sent to Samuel, and God rejected all seven.  Samuel was really confused – why in the world was he there?  Then the prophet thought to ask, “Is this all your kids?”  Ah – no.  There is an eighth, out in the fields with the sheep.  “Send for him,” Samuel commanded.  When young David entered the house, God said to Samuel, “Up on your feet!  Anoint him!  This is the one!”  [1 Samuel 16:12b The Message]

When I was growing up, my mother had a variety of sayings that sought to teach the same lesson:  Beauty is only skin-deep, Pretty is as pretty does, or It is not what you are but who you are that really counts.  You may be drop-dead gorgeous or ruggedly handsome, but that certainly does not guarantee that the mind won’t be empty or the heart stone cold.  God is not interested in our shell, but our core.  His eye looks at our integrity, our thought process, our character.

Watch your thoughts, for they become words.

Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits.

Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

~Unknown