What do you see when you look at someone else? What goes into your decision about who they are? Are you impressed with physical attributes? Does someone’s size make a difference? Do their mannerisms and their speech? How do you decide whether you like them or not?
All manner of attributes go into our decision to like someone or not. We see their physical attributes such as height, weight, proportional distribution, and facial form. We may consider their mannerisms, the way they talk, an accent, or even their handshake.
God does not use any of those things when he considers someone. His only consideration is their heart. God can work with all the physical attributes. He can use anyone who has a heart for him. The person whose heart is set on God will see God work in their lives in mighty ways.
Samuel was told to go to Jerusalem to anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse’s first son, Eliab, must have been a tall and handsome man for God told him not to make judgment based on his appearance or height. God was looking inside Eliab’s heart and did not see what he wanted to see. Eliab may have worshiped God, but he didn’t have a heart after God’s own heart like David. So, God rejected Eliab, and every other son of Jesse’s, until the youngest was brought forward.
We can fall into the same trap as Samuel. We can be impressed by someone’s physical attributes. We may prefer a pretty face. But we would be better served to get to know someone’s heart through interaction with them to determine their heart. Someone whose heart is like the heart of God will be a far better friend and mate.
I pray we all forgo making a decision about someone based on physical attributes. I pray we seek to get to know the person’s heart. I pray each one of us seek friendship with someone whose heart is in sync with God’s. Discard physical attributes. Interact with people. Get to know their heart.
1 Samuel 16:6-7 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely his anointed is now before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
Marty Pressey 